Lights, Camera, Chaos!

I'm just as sad as the puppy.

2008-08-29T19:16:00.001-07:00

I know that everyone does this all the time, and I now understand why. I'm going to have to take a blogging break, and I HATE HATE HATE HATE to do that, because I love blogging and don't want to lose any of my approximately three readers. But today was only the third day of school, and I'm already being sucked into a black hole of work. Actually, I'm being sucked into a black hole called AP US History. I play volleyball and I'm in marching band in the fall, and that's hard enough. But on top of that, this year is junior year, which I hear is a bitch, and I have a 3-page-outline on a president every week, plus an outline of a thirty page chapter, 20 questions, and terms and definitions due every week, plus a test nearly every week. My teacher tells us that it's all "mandated by the college board," but I kind of think that's bull. This weekend is blessedly three-day, so maybe if I finished my teetering mountains of work, I'll post a little, but I'm just not sure. I'll still be reading and commenting on other blogs, and it would be super awesome if when I came back, people still remembered me and read me. It's late and I'm tired and pissed off and sad and I just watched Amelie, which doesn't relate to any of those said feelings, but I thought I'd throw it in there. you should check it out.

Stay classy, blogosphere!

peace!
a.

PHELPS FOR THE WIN!

2008-08-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank Mrs. Phelps for the service she did the world by putting her son in a pool. Hot damn.

MiCHAEL, Mi-CHAEL, Mi-CHAEL.

The Olympics get me all patriotic and intense. I honestly start shaking before each of Phelpsy's races. Did you SEE THAT RELAY?????????

Even better than said relay was seeing Michael Phelps go apeshit, specifically seeing each and every muscle in his arms.

I'm normally not like this, I swear.

School starts in two weeks. In odd haze of AP work, volleyball, band camp, intensive TV-watching, and hot swimmers.

peace!
a.

Now accepting donations.

2008-08-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

NOT the type of mole removed from my face. That might be a little uncomfortable.

I got a mole on my face removed today. Not for vanity purposes; I loved my mole. It was kind of annoying when people when reach up and try to pick it off, informing me that I have "something on your face," to which I would respond that no, it's not chocolate, or dirt, or pen, and no, it's not coming off. But still. I liked my mole. I left band camp early today for "surgery" (as I enjoyed putting it), and when I returned, many people went, "Anna, what happened to your FACE?" and I would reply, "I got a mole removed," and a SECOND after I replied that, I realized that I just missed the PERFECT opportunity to use that amazing line from Rushmore that I've been looking for the opportunity to use in real life. Peter: "What happened to your face?" Max: "I got punched in the face. [turns to Rosemarie] What's his excuse?" I constantly think of good things to say five seconds after I say something lame. But anyway, now I have a huge bandaid on my face, and I have yet to see the stitches, but the numbness was extremely weird. It was like, "I KNOW this woman is carving my face up, HOW CAN I NOT FEEL IT???" And when I tried to smile later, I looked like I had Bells Palsy. It's been six hours, and the area is still numb. It's the creepiest thing in the world.

But on to my real reason for posting. I love Say Anything. I love Max Bemis. I'll talk more about that in another post. But when I came across a post on their website, I realized just how awesome he really is. Max is offering the chance for fans to email him a few paragraphs about a problem in their life, or something they've gone through, or just a topic they feel needs to be written about, and he will write a SONG JUST FOR THEM. A SONG. WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR YOU. BY MAX BEMIS. Here's where Max Bemis' genius comes into full view. He knows that we all download his music for free. But to get a song written just for you... well, you CAN'T get that on any website. The website says they're not accepting any new emails because requests are getting sent in faster than Max can write songs, but they'll open it up again later. So WHY have I not jumped on this chance of a lifetime?

Umm.... anybody have one hundred fifty bucks?

The thought of having my own Say Anything song literally gets me all excited in my stomach, because I'm easily excitable (that sounds dirty), but I simply don't have $150. I KNOW they can't give away songs for free, the amount of emails would be riDICulous, and they have to make money somehow. It's times like these I wish my last name was Gates. Or Winfrey. I once read somewhere that Jolie-Pitt is the best last name for getting into restaurants aside from, say... Winfrey-Christ. Ha. HA.

Here's the video Max posted is a "haze of sleeping medication." So he's not drunk.

I wasn't aware the earth produced quite that much black eyeliner.

2008-08-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Would you like to know how awesome my Warped Tour experience was? Just read the sign:

In case you can't read the sign, it says: "TIP! WE NEED $ FOR OVER-SIZED CONDOMS AND DRUGS!"
Yeah, that's how awesome my day was.

I went to Warped Tour with my two friends, both of whom had never been before and one of whom I was very afraid would not be able to handle it. I love her to death, but when she got into the car with big earrings, some eyeshadow, and a relatively small purse with some sort of logo on it, my only thought was, "Oh.....no." I realized that description makes her sound like some sort of priss, but she's really not. She and I are just different. But anyway... A's dad drove us, and as we walked in, A and M were already freaking out because random guys were coming up to us, saying things like, "Hey girls, not to be awkward or anything, but I'm in a band, and I was wondering if you'd like to listen to a song and tell us what you think." The guy was really nice, but I politely refused, though I'm sure many people at said Tour would have been like, "Dude... fuck off." So we walk in, and thank God I had been there before, because it is pretty overwhelming. So we checked the huge schedule and I start panicking because no one on said schedule did I see Be Your Own Pet.

Yes, I know. I was just as shocked. Only after I got home and looked on their myspace did I realize that the Warped website was woefully not up to date. While the website, which is SUPPOSED TO KEEP ME INFORMED, still said that they would be playing, but alas, BYOP's myspace had the tragic message that they would not be participating at all in Warped this year, since they were burned out from touring. :( I really wanted to see Jemina. And sing along to "Becky."

M liked this band called Automatic Loveletter, so we went to see them. They reminded me of Paramore, fronted by a girl with unique hair that millions of teens across the nation will desperately attempt to copy. The lead singer's name is Juliet, which is kind of rad. I always wished I had a unique name. AL was good, way better than they could have been. Ie, not screamy or overly ironic, any of that shit. Juliet had a strong voice, and it was fun watching guys who shouldn't have been listening to that kind of music desperately trying to grab her ankles. But Juliet's voice was definitely unique... it kind of sounded hoarse and kept cracking, and I thought, "hmmm... maybe her voice is getting tired?" But no, apparently that's her voice, because it's like that in recordings, as well. Weird.

Grrrr. Before the pictures were too big and now they are too small. Oh, woe is me.

Then after Automatic Loveletter we walked around and looked at the plethora of tents, which is one of the best parts, and M wanted to get an AM shirt, and who was standing outside the AM booth but JULIET??? She was taking pictures with whoever wanted one and now I kind of regret I didn't get one, and M didn't get one, but I'm shy about that kind of thing. It's not like I could gush about her songs, because I'd just heard them for the first time. Ahh well.

And passing by the Relient K tent, we saw a long line and I look at the front of the line, and who is standing there but Matt Thiessen, the lead singer. It was slightly surreal, just because I had a crush on him in.... I think it was sixth grade. It was just weird. I saw a lot of people that day that I've read about in magazines and everything, but seeing them is oddly anticlimatic. It's just like... "Oh look. It's [insert name here]. They look shorter in person."

We would have had a large gap in between shows, so we decided to check out Reel Big Fish. I had heard about them before but never listened to them, and they were AMAZING. Their music is ska, with trombones and trumpets being used a lot, a sort of reggae-feel to the music, and it just made me want to dance. And I am not a dancer. It takes a lot for me to want to dance. But I was bouncing and such. But there was this creepy old guy next to me--literally old, he was probably a father of a teenager there--who was really fat and sweaty and knew every single word. M was next to him but then oh-so-subtly switched places with me. My friends are always thinking of others...

Reel Big Fish know how to entertain. The lead singer kept going, "We are the Reel Big Fish-a!" And one of the trumpeters had this WWII-style bomber's hat on. Kind of sweet. Then the lead singer went, "This next song is about a girl who left me, for another girl!" The song is called "She Has A Girlfriend Now," and halfway through the song he sang, "She kissed a girl and she liked it/ the taste of her cherry chapstick/ she kissed a girl just to try it/ and her boyfriend...oh, he minded/" The giddy crowd started cheering like crazy. Then they played one of their songs in different musical styles, including country, disco, death metal. It was great.

Then we looked at more tents (I tell you, the tents are one of the best parts. There's all sorts of band merch and awesomeness. My friend A told me several times throughout the day how much she loves the word, "merch.")

We decided next to see The Academy Is..., which is a band that tends to attract a lot of chubby girls who should NOT be wearing Medium American Apparel band tees, but insist on doing so, much to the chagrin of those around them, not to mention the world in general. Mean? Yes. True? Also yes. I only know two of their songs, "Slow Down," and "We've Got a Big Mess On Our Hands." The lead singer, William Beckett, is your typical emaciated emo-frontman. Seriously, man, eat a fucking burger.

Wait, I bet he's vegan. They all are. A.... tofuburger? A hell of a lot of lettuce?
And throughout the show, my friends and I were all trying to decide whether he is gay or quite possibly the most effeminate heterosexual I have ever encountered. I couldn't even pay attention to the music, I was staring in dumbstruck wonder at the complete lack of body fat on that frame. And he kept popping his hug out. Weird. But he does know how to put on a show, Beckett jumps up and down a lot and swings the mic and shit.

Luckily, they played both "Slow Down" and "We've Got A Big Mess On Our Hands," so I didn't have to stand their like an idiot for the WHOLE set and at least had a FEW songs to sing along to.
Oh! Oh! And it was at the The Academy Is... show (that ellipsis is REALLY. ANNOYING.) that M had her first ever encounter with a crowd surfer falling on her head! Aw, she's growing up so fast. Sniffle.

*Raises eyebrows. Looks quizically at reader.* You make your own conclusions.

By then it was 3:00, and the next show wasn't until 5, and we were really hungry, so he realized that were going to have to pay approximately eight dollars for a cracker. (If you are still reading this, I love you.) Eight dollars actually bought us a pan pizza. They had tons of pepperoni left because everyone at Warped Tour is really into not eating animals. Do I wish I could be vegetarian? Yes. But I just love chicken....

So then we.... wait for it... walked around some more, and preceded in buying a ridiculous amount of pins. Buttons. Whatever you call them. I procured at least ten, probably more, on Warped Tour alone. I took pictures of them, I'll post them later. We basically walked around every stand, looking for buttons of any kind--free buttons, band buttons... Then I found the Vegan/Vegetarian stand that I remembered from last year and, while they are constantly asking you if you've gotten your free vegetarian starter kit, the stand had TONS of bumper stickers and PINS GALORE. The bumper stickers are all hippie liberal stuff, which I love so I bought three: a peace sign, a "Free Tibet" one, and a "Hugs Not Drugs" one. But I'm boring you. Oh! Obama had a stand! I wanted a pin, but since it was a campaign I had to sign up, so I did. My writing really sucks right now, I'm sorry. But I got my pin!

The people who work at the stands in Warped can be kind of weird. They're all very outgoing and happy. Who DOES that? Kidding. Ish.

Part of the fun of Warped Tour is watching people, watching people try SO hard to rebel and be original. I mean, it was freaking hot. I'm not going to wear skinny jeans, or black pants and a jacket, just so I look "cool." I was wearing some random shorts and a ratty old t-shirt, I didn't try to pretend that I was so different from everyone else. I realize I sound self-righteous, but it's odd when "rebelling" becomes so cliche that it no longer is rebelling.

The next show was Say Anything, which I was most excited for, since I absolutely adore their music, and Max Bemis is as fucking badass as they come. The lyrics are so honest, sarcastic and just great. For your own good, listen to "Admit It!!!"

We got there early, quite luckily, dare I say, because as the show started and I looked behind me, the crowd went back ridiculously far. I can't lie, seeing Max Bemis up close was really, really amazing. If you've ever been to a concert, who know what's it like to hear those opening chords, or drum beat, or anything, and just flip out because you know that you LOVE that song. So when I heard the opening to "Alive With the Glory of Love," I screamed kind of loud. My friends looked at me kind of oddly. But whatever. So of course I sang every word. Max and the gang then proceeded to play "Woe." Then I heard the opening to "Every Man Has A Molly," and Max called out, "Who has our album Is A Boy?" Many hands then shot up in the air, perhaps hoping to receive some sort of trophy or gold star. Max: "This is a song from that album, it's a true story, it's called 'Every Man Has A Molly.'"

(it's really annoying how pictures make things look farther away than they really were. I swear I was closer.)

Then we heard the phone ring that starts off "Wow, I Can Sexual Too," and the crowd basically went apeshit. Then they played "Shiksa," but beforehand Max said this (I can't believe I remember it so well): "Are there any Jewish boys out there? *Random cheers* There's not too many of us left, is there? How many of you have ever dated a Christian girl? Yeah, how'd your parents react to that? Not too well, huh? Well I wrote a song about it. This song is for all you girls who have to deal with those parents. It's called 'Shiksa'."

They also sang "Woe," and we had to leave five minutes early to get a good seat for Katy Perry, but as we were leaving, we heard the last song, "Belt."
Seeing Max Bemis is person was also weird. The sarcastic, honest lyrics that come from the man's brain..... and all he's been through and done in his life, his DIEHARD fans. It was... surreal.

Ugh, I've been writing this post for a week and I'm getting tired of it. I don't have a very good attention span.

OH! This is good. In the crowd at Say Anything I took this picture of my friend, and I wouldn't have put it up here but I wanted to show you the emo girl in it because I thought it was funny.

I didn't even know she was there, I just took the picture and later I looked at it and realized how hilarious it was. Girl: "Who is this person wearing...bright... colors? Where is her eyeliner? Black hair? Bangs? I don't understand.... Ew."

Oh, the retarded black is my attempt at covering up my friend's identity. But you can see my reflection in her glasses. Oooo, mystery.

Then we went to see Katy Perry, very popular, obviously. She came out with a parasol, definitely more theatrical than any of the other bands. She knows how to work a stage though; pretending to rub up against the security guard, jumping off the drum platform. She sang "Hot N Cold," which was great. Singing "Ur So Gay," at the end, she said, "And the choir SINGS, one two three..." and the crowd cries "PENIS!" Katy: "For those of you in the back, that was 'Penis!'" She saved "I Kissed A Girl" for last of course, pulling a phone on stage and saying, "Hi Mom! How are you, I'm doing a show.... wait. What did you hear? I KISSED A GIRL???" Cue apeshit crowd. Blah... it was good, I'm sure somewhere in the crowd some lesbian action was occurring.

We had to miss the first 15 minutes of Relient K because of overlapping Katy Perry, so I was bummed. I distinctly remember loving Relient K around sixth grade, pretty hardcore, in fact. Not RElient K. They are certainly not hardcore. I meant I loved them hardcore. Hardcorely? Ehhh. We got there twenty minutes into their set, and I'd missed "Be My Escape." :( That was my little sixth grade-self's favorite. Then Matt Thiessen, the lead singer said, "How many of you watch NBC's 'The Office'?" I started screaming and waving my hand around like a moron, because the heat and loud music can do that to a person. Then he said, "We wrote a little song about it." I recorded it, and I really want to put it up here, but I need to set up a youtube account, so I'll do that later. But it was seriously one of the highlights of my day, I don't know why. Here's the lyrics,

Michael Scott
Pan and Jim
You've got me glued to my television.
And Angela, you're way too cute
to be messin around with someone like Dwight Schrute.
Relient K and the Football Hall of Fame are from Canton
I wish someone would just transfer us...to Scranton

He then proceeded to say, "That's in Pennsylvania, right?" which caused me to shout, since my poor old home state gets little recognition. Then they played the theme, and I was happy and smiling and it was just great.

They played "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" and some other song that I am sorry to say I don't remember, but that's all we saw.

We wanted to see All Time Low, but they were at 8:00, which is slightly ridiculous, and by then it was only 6:30, and our ride didn't want to have to wait, which was understandable.

After Relient K we tried to run to stands to buy some final things, but the annoying thing about Warped Tour is that after six o clock they start taking things down/ selling out of things because they have to be somewhere else by the next day. M tried to run to the Katy Perry stand but it was being taken down, and I wanted Say Anything buttons, which they HAD BEFORE BUT WERE NOW SOLD OUT OF. The annoying thing is that I know they HAVE them somewhere, I'm sure there was a big box of buttons in the bus, but they just don't come prepared. Incompetence. Kidding.

On the way out, I was walking by the Reel Big Fish stand, and I was like, "Whoa! It's the lead singer!" So, the wimp that I am, instead of actually getting in line to MEET him, I sneaked up to the side and took a picture.

So then, sadly, we had to leave, but first we had one last mission to fulfill. My friend's sister, who was in the car when we were dropped off, thought it would be hilarious to rip out posters of the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus from some magazine she had, and we would have to hand them out to kids at Warped, telling them to support the Jonas Brothers, and if they left now, they could still make the Jo Bros' show, 7 o clock at Hershey! Well, my friends and I can be pansies sometimes, so we left the posters on the ground instead of handing them out.

I bought WAY too much for my own good and now owe my mom sixty dollars. I took pictures of everything I bought, I'll post them some time later this week, maybe. Posting is going to be scarce, I have band camp eight hours a day for the next two weeks, and school starts this month (we start really early in Pennsylvania), so I am currently panicking at all I have yet to accomplish. Boooooo.

GO TO WARPED TOUR! It's always so much fun I feel guilty.

Peace!
a.

REALLY?

2008-07-26T08:21:00.001-07:00

The Dark Knight is the greatest movie EVER MADE? I have difficulty believing that.

According, that is, to the IMDB users who have rated it NUMBER ONE on the Top 250. And IMDB has a formula resembling a rocket science equation to figure out a movie's place on aforementioned list, so I know it has to be somewhat accurate. The formula involves how many movies the user has rated and a slew of other things. The hype for this movie is kind of getting out of hand. Though it's already been released, so perhaps hype stops once something is released. But I have to say that I am one of approximately seven people in the...entire country who has not yet seen The Dark Knight (that's an official estimation, folks). I was on vacation when it came out and I've been really busy.

So who's seen it, is it really worth the 9.3something rating it was given on IMDB?

Oh yeah, I know how lame this post is, but I started it the other day and now I just want to finish it. A better post is coming soon... I hope.

peace!
a

I wuv reading.

2008-07-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my embarrassingly sporadic posting, and this one isn't going to be much better, since I am leaving for San Diego for a week and I have a lot of packing and stuff to do. But hopefully, between the summer reading and AP History work I have to do out there, I will glean some inspiration.
So this post is pretty much about some books I am planning to read in the near future. Pshh, talk about lame. Thank you for reading this if you still are. (Sometimes, if you can't tell, I have confidence issues. :P)

1) The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

The grade above mine is really strange in that they all get obsessed about several things and pass it around the grade. For example, Fight Club, both the film and the book. And all of them seem to think that THEY are the one who started the phenomenom. It's quite fun to watch, actually. One of these obsessions is The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, which is, in and of itself, already a cult classic. It's the kind of book that causes people to write to the author and tell he/she that the book kept he/she from killing themselves. Whoa. (Though I read somewhere that someone wrote the same thing to the author of the Twilig ht books and I couldn't help thinking that there's nothing philosophical or deep in those books that could honestly keep someone from killing themselves. Oh, even better: I once hear that HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL kept someone from killing themselves. Yes. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. How many people are secreting wanting to kill themselves but are just waiting for that classical magnum opus [cough] to keep them from doing so?) But anyway, what I've heard from this book is that it is written in the form of letters from a teenage boy named Charlie to an anonymous reader, and it's all about angst and adolescence and things like that. I think I'm going to love it.

2) Everything Is Illuminated

I bought this book at the incredible Strand bookstore when I went to New York over New Years, and it's been lying on my bookshelf every since. It's weird, I know, but I've just been waiting for the right time to read it. It's written very oddly, so I can't be distracted by any shiny objects while attempting it. It's about...I'm probably going to get this horribly wrong, but I'm pretty sure it is about a guy with the same name as the author who goes on a search throughout Eastern Europe to find the woman who helped his grandfather, somehow, in the Holocaust.
Here's hoping I have a better idea of what the story is about after actually reading it.

3) My Sister's Keeper

I can't help it, but I really like Jodi Picoult's writing. Well, actually, I've only read Nineteen Minutes but that was so absorbing and wrenching that I'm sure her other stuff is also well written. My sister and several of my friends have read this book and lurrrv it, so I figured I might give it a try. Basic story: This girl was conceived as a donor for her sister, and her whole life has revolved around surgeries and such to help her sister, and then I think she decides to sue her family or something light-hearted like that.

4)Eclipse

Yes, yes, I've read the first two Twilight books, and I must say... I just don't... GET it. The most recent Entertainment Weekly cover article was on the books, and it dared compare them to Harry Potter. I got pissed at that. Harry Potter was a series like none seen before, gorgeously crafted with astounding detail, and they were so many people's childhood. They transported us to another world, one of Quidditch and potions, a Ministry of Magic and owl post. All sorts of people loved those books; male and female, rich and poor, young and old. However, the Twilight books appeal mostly to one audience: obsessive teenage and pre-teen girls who think that Edward Cullen is the perfect boyfriend or whatever, even though his speech consists of two variations: 1) Bella, I love you, I would die for you. and 2) Bella, don't be stupid, I'm going to laugh at you now and then two seconds later tell you how much I love you. Bumper stickers on facebook ar e like, "Romeo who? I'm waiting for my Edward Cullen." And I'm thinking.... actually, they're both two men that I would NOT want as mates. Romeo is whiney, melodramatic, and rash. And Edward is just possessive and creepy, no matter how hot he may be. However, I still read the books because they're easy, and fun to read.

Reading is one of my favorite things to do, and it has been since I was three. When I was younger, I would take a book in the car EVERYWHERE, even if the ride was only going to be ten minutes long. When people told me that they couldn't read without getting carsick, I remember feeling incredibly sad for them. What did they DO in the car?? Stare out the window? How unfortunate. :P And I know a lot of random things, from trivia to history facts to lots and lots of geography, and when people ask me how I know, I almost always answer... "I read a lot." And it's true.

In a non-book-related subject, I watched Wes Anderson's Rushmore on Sunday and again this afternoon. It was so freaking awesome my mind is still buzzing. I'll write more about that when I get back and more about..... BILLY JOEL, who I saw in concert last week. Gagagaga. I love old people music.

And just because I have random pictures sitting on my computer, here's one of Audrey Hepburn in that Gap commercial from two years ago.

And this, which I found as a bumper sticker on Facebook and it pretty much made my day.

What books are YOU reading this summer?
I'll write more once I'm back from sunny San Diego! Oy. That sounds like some cheesy weatherman thing. "And it's sunny in San Diego today folks!" Cue cheesy grin.

peace!
a.

Fuck Starbucks!

2008-07-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

The amazingly cool/creative/funny Sister Libby over at Ice Cube Confidential recently posted her "Coffee Shop Mix-tape," and it was so great that I was inspired to create one of my own. I've always secreted desired owning my own coffee shop..... a quaint but not cramped space in an old brownstone in a historic part of a town like Boston or Burlington, Vermont, decorated in my favorite quirky style, where I could sell my favorite books and some fair trade items from places like Nepal and Peru. I would bake all my own... baked goods, sell as much tea as I did coffee, and I would have a super-small stage where local artists could perform on open-mic nights. Sigh. If only. And perhaps most importantly, I could chose my own perfect soundtrack. And everyone would love my coffee shop so much that they would spurn the Starbucks around the corner... and that other one around the OTHER corner. When dreaming up my Coffee Shop Mix, my mind immediately went to spare acoustic songs, but then I realized that if I would be in said shop, I might get weary of those kind of songs, and who wants to be sad all the time? So I mixed that kind of song a lot into my mix, since I have plenty of those on my iPod, but I also mixed in some more upbeat tunes.

“New Romantic”- I just discovered Laura Marling, and her voice is so surprising; she’s this tiny little blond, milky-skinned fairy-tale creature, and this soulful, alluring, smooth voice comes out of her. I also suggest “The Captain and the Hourglass.”

“Criminal”- She was 17 when she wrote this. 17. And this song is one of the best I’ve ever heard. I’m 16. This makes me angry at God for not granting me more talent.

“First Day Of My Life”- I love Bright Eyes. I love this song. I suggest that you watch the video. It’s so sweet.

“New Slang”- You’ve all seen Garden State. But this song hits me deep every single time I listen to it, and I can listen to it over and over and over. It just transports me to a different plane of living. This is the only version I could find though, it’s different than the one I have… I really really want to learn this on guitar… which might take a while. Oh, and just to be obnoxious, I loved this song before I saw aforementioned movie. :P

“Angeles”- I couldn’t find the recorded version, but every time I listen to Elliott Smith, a switch is hit somewhere inside me, and I am constantly in awe of his genius, every song is a work of art.

“Love You Much Better”- The Hush Sound is probably my favorite band without a member named Ringo or Lennon, and I wanted to put “Where We Went Wrong” on the mix, but they didn’t have it.  Wah wah wah.

“I Will Follow You Into the Dark”- I hear those opening chords, and I simply melt. Ben Gibbard’s voice and lyrics…. “If heaven and hell decide/ that they both are satisfied/ illuminate the “no’s” on their vacancy signs/ if there’s no one beside you/ when your soul embarks/ then I’ll follow you into the dark/… so sweet, so poignant, yet also slightly dark.

“One Of These Things First”- Nick Drake’s music is autumn in song form.

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”- To lighten things up a bit.

“Aux Champs Elysees”- Do I have any idea what the hell he’s saying? Of course not. Does that keep me from loving this buoyant, joyful song to bits? Of course not!

“Naked As We Came”- I actually use this song as a lullaby. Weird, I know. But it’s so soothing.

“Portions For Foxes”- Guitar-driven, but it’s a light song, and I love it.

“Sweet Baby James”- My mom always said that if she had the opportunity to run off with any celebrity, it would be James Taylor, which I always thought was really weird because he’s gross and old and bald. But I can’t deny how much I love his music, and the uniqueness of his voice.

“Just Like Heaven”- SHOW ME SHOW ME SHOW ME HOW YOU DO THAT TRICK… The guitar riff is killllllller.

“Hey Jude”- This is the part in my coffee-house fantasy where one person starts singing along, and then one more, and eventually the whole place breaks into song. Like in Almost Famous. And a lot of swaying is involved.

“Spit On A Stranger”- My dad got me into this band when I was around eight, and their first album was really bluegrass, but their second was this amazing mix of bluegrass and jazz, and I’ve listened to it so many times that it’s all scratched up. This is a cover of a Pavement song, and I love Chris Thile’s (lead singer and mandolin player! Hell yes!) voice and skillz.

“Tangled Up In Blue”-…It’s Bob Dylan.

“Life Is A Song”- This was the last song they played on “The O.C.” and the lyrics, gentle guitar, and honesty of Patrick Park’s voice are what have made it one of my most played songs. “We always forget how strange it is just to be alive at all.”

“Vienna”- I listen to old people’s music, don’t I?

I'm going to go make myself some tea. Oo, and PLEASE make your own coffee-house mix, but be sure to credit Sister Libby for starting the movement.

peace!
a.

P.S. I can't stop listening to "Buddy Holly" by Weezer. It's so catchy, and the music video is absolutely astounding, check it out or be lame. Ouch. That must've STUNG.

Try not to work yourself into a bother.

2008-06-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'm going to my grandparent's house for a week, and they don't have a computer, so I'll see you on da flipside, yo.

Holla.

peace.
a.

Any integrity I had is now lost. I don't even know what the hell this post IS.

2008-06-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of disgustingly choreographed goodness I subjected myself to.

I'm not one of those people who makes a big deal of shunning anything and everything that might appeal to girls around age 13. Mostly. Well, Miley Cyrus is one of my most hated people on this planet next to oh, I don't know, bin Laden, and I want to jab her eyes out every time I see her face and put duct tape over that stupid mouth so I can't hear her grating voice. But aside from that, every now and then I just enjoy some brainless, sugary, high-calorie bubblegum fun that I can laugh at and kind of make fun of with my sister but I know we both secretly kind of liked it in a really oblique way.

Yes, I am admitting it, I watched Camp Rock on Disney on Friday. And I may or may not have watched it again on ABC last night. Possibly. And it was so train-wrecky awesome and Disney-fied that I couldn't help smiling. Possibly because it was so formulaic that I kept guessing exactly what was going to happen and turned out being right. For example, as soon as the character of Caitlin was introduced, I guessed, "She's going to be Mitchie's friend, but then she's going to be ditched for Tess and then Mitchie will realize it's stupid and they'll be friends again." And I was TOTALLY right.

By
"OMG! Bitch! Let's suck at acting and let Disney put us through the star-processor as we sell our souls, kay?"

It was also funny how unashamed Disney was in objectifying poor Joe. From the a-bit-too-long-to-be-accidental butt shots to the ridiculously placed "let's have Joe emerging shirtless from a lake, a scene that could have TOTALLY been erased, but let's get the little girls screaming!" it was all kind of crazy. Especially the shirtless thing. I could hear the 13 year olds across amazing squealing. But I'm not going to lie. That was a pretty hot shot.

Watching Joe Jonas try to portray any emotion other than the easy cocky rock star thing was kind of hard to watch, but sadly, as I was watching, I kind myself going, "Hm. He's kind of hot. NO! SELF! NO LIKING THE JONAS BROTHERS! NO! BAD!" But fuck it, I can't help it. He's hot. And when the Jonas Brothers performed "Play My Music," I unwillingly found myself going, "Dude. Nick's really sexy. Like REALLY sexy. I love his clothes. I love how low he holds his guitar. I love... NO! STOP! ENOUGH!" But after I watched the movie, I went to my computer and looked up interviews with them on youtube, the only website to which I would sell my soul, and they're actually kind of awesome. Oh God. Did I just say that? But they are. Except Kevin. Kevin is just disgusting. They're articulate, funny, polite, and they dress really really well. Except Kevin. But let's just ignore him from now on. Sorry Kevin, you're out of the band for not being pretty enough. (Oh, for the record, the three interviews were they've been on Ellen are really enjoyable. Unless you have some integrity left, then I'd understand how you'd be finding this whole post absolutely ridiculous.)

But let's just explore the whole situation. I HATE the whole fanbase of this "band". Is it even a band? Well, they write their own songs and play their own instruments, so yes, I guess. But you know if one them had welts on his face or they were ugly, they'd still be regular guys from New Jersey. Sad, but true. Their music is purely, PURELY, bubblegum pop. In fact, I was wondering how they deal with it all... all the screaming, nay, SCREECHING girls, the product placement, the whole "Disney" thing, supporting Miley Cyrus on tour... I mean, that in itself is enough to make anyone want to, oh, I don't know, DIE. Kevin is 20, I think, and Joe is 18, how do they POSSIBLY deal with this tween obsession with them? Any time they appear on talk shows, the screeches are literally embarrassing to watch, and whenever they say something "cute" and all the stupid girls so "Awwwwwww!" I literally have to cover my eyes, it's just too sad. Youtube comments are just hilarious, aren't they? One time when they were on Ellen, this one girl won a chance to travel on a plane with them, and she was really excited or whatever, but she wasn't CRYING, which I found noble of her, and all the people in the comments were like, "Bitch! She's not even excited!" Whoaaa. LAY OFF. Just because she's handling it sanely and not FAINTING like YOU would...

But yeah, by principle alone, I should hate the Jonas Brothers with every fiber of my being. But I can't. Why? Because they (remember, this is totally excluding Kevin, because he's just gross) are just too damn pretty. And they dress really well AND they're straight. And I will NEVER, EVER, be one of those people who are all, "Mrs. Joe Jonas!" I mean, that's just sad. But how many straight guys dress that well? Joe wears saddle shoes, you know, the 50s style one, for Christsake, which I should find absolutely disgusting, but is actually kind of awesome. They wear suits and skin-tight pants a lot, which is just fine with me, and Nick wears a lot of Chucks, which is basically my soul is a shoe, so we are obviously... SOLE mates. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Yes, I DID just go there. I just made that ridiculous pun. Bah-zing!

Except for these white pants that were in "Camp Rock." Normally the pair miraculously manage to make white pants look good, but these ones just make Joe's stubby legs look extra stubby.

HAHAHA that scene was awful. He just walks in and starts doing this dance, and everyone someone picks up on it IMMEDIATELY. god, I tell you. It's amazing.

This is them on Ellen. She gave Joe a helmet because I guess he falls down alot. I like his pants....

I dig a man in Ray-Bans. And a tie.

I still can't believe I am actually writing a post involving the Jonas Brothers. Wow. WOW.

Whoa, just came across an article with the title, "Jonas Brothers: 'We are all virgins.'" I already knew about the whole purity ring thing, but isn't that kind of... blatant? I mean, way to just... put it out there, guys. It actually made me kind of uncomfortable to read that title. Just like when watching the screeching girls. In fact, everything involving the Jonas Brothers makes me kind of uncomfortable, probably because I know I shouldn't be attracted to them.

I'm sorry, this post is so completely unstream-lined, and it kind of sucks. I need to work on my editing skills. Or just my life skills in general...

They're all very skinny, which I love (does that sound bad? I'm sorry, I just prefer skinny guys...). And that all-black thing is REALLY good. Like, REALLY.

I already mentioned Nick and the shoes, but he is a REALLY good dresser. And the fact that's he's actually YOUNGER than me makes me 1) feel a little skeeved out; 2) feel inadequate because I've done nothing with my life and here he is making music (however crappy 99% of that music may be) and touring the world.

During "Camp Rock" there was this scene where the brothers came on to perform as a different band, but, whatever. The song was called "Play My Music" and it was such high-octane pop that I found my self, horrifically, smiling. And it was fun to watch Joe try really hard to be a rock star. I will admit to downloading the song and rocking out it several times a day. Sue me for not wanting to listen to philosophical Bright Eyes ALL the time, ok? And while Joe is a bit effeminate and has a really girly voice, I oddly don't mind. And it was REALLY fun to watch Nick be sexy. And where great clothes. I'm a total sucker for any guy in a plaid button down. Except truckers and lumberjacks. Sorry. But any other guy.

Along with being a sucker for plaid-sporting men (kilts, however, do not count), and non-emo guys who wear Chucks, I am also a sucker for musicians and curly hair. All four things fuse into Nick Jonas. Do you see how I am left without a choice? I am powerless to this attraction.

I don't know/ care who the woman in the middle is... and what is up with that hat... but the coats on the other two are great.

Nick, please just shave your head or get some major scars on your face or something, because this attraction is embarrassing me.

Perhaps this is Nick getting in touch with his "Disco self" but I, surprise!, love how he's dressed.

And, just to objectify the poor boy even farther, I'd like to point out that he has REALLY nice arms.

Ok, this post has to end. or it's just going to get even MORE out of hand.

Did anyone else indulge in this poppy train wreck known as "Camp Rock"? If not, and you're not afraid to act like a little kid and smile at really stupid stuff, it's on tonight, ABC Family. Any does anyone else find Nick and Jonas oddly sexy, against your better judgement? If so, LET ME KNOW. i need to know I'm not completely insane. Or at least, I'm not alone in my insanity.

Sorry for this. I'm going to go hide in my room now and listen to some Sufjan Stevens to regain my "indie cred." Just kidding! I do love Sufjan, but I don't give a shit about my indie cred. If I did, I certainly wouldn't have conceived this post.

as dorky as ever,
a.

Summer forecast

2008-06-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

I always expect summer to be way more awesome than it is. I picture lazy days floating on a river/ lake, strumming a guitar by a fire, writing in my journal in a garden or in a tree or something... cheesy stuff like that. Instead, I am stuck at home a lot, since I can't drive myself yet, in the frigid icebox of my home when my dad gets his hands on the air conditioning, and the either really nice and breezy oasis or stifingly hot and sticky sauna of my home when my mom gets HER hands on the air conditioning (depending on the weather). But this summer, I am actually doing some interesting things. Ish. Interesting things-ish. Enough to keep it from being a total waste. So I thought I share those with you, because I know I'm just fascinating like that. Cough.

Learn the acoustic guitar.
Quite a summery thing to do, is it not? After around.... four years of desperate longing, I FINALLY got a guitar for my recent birthday, though I just got it a few days ago. I just really want to be able to play and sing my favorite songs, and if the heavens open up and the Muses pour their sugar on me, maybe write some EXTREMELY simple music. But obviously the Muses have used all their sweet sweet sugar up on Conor Oberst.
I bought a "Teach Youself Guitar!" book (yayyyyy! Woo! I hate that freaking exclamation point in the title) at the bookstore, and it's good, plenty of chords and whatnot. But it's weird... I'm halfway decent at piano, I taught myself on a toy keyboard for about two years until I finally got real lessons, and then I had enough skills to skip a whole level. I've since had to stop lessons due to bloody school and volleyball and every other stupid thing I'm involved in, but I play constantly, and I love illegally procuring sheet music online. Woooooot. But anyway, my point was that I ridiculously expect myself to already be playing songs on the guitar, forgetting that it's taken me several years to get good at the piano. So I'm just randomly strumming chords, kind of lost... I need the structure of a lesson, but obviously lessons aren't happening, so I'll just have to find some online. But that's a good summer project for me. And then me and my friend who has also just started tea ching herself guitar can go stand on a street corner and play obscure songs to up our indie (and street) cred, and people can throw pennies in our cases if they are sweet and yell obscene things like "Get off the fucking sidewalk!" at us if they are just plain awesome. Because we would suck so badly.

rockmantica

Paint
Painting is like a tranquilizer for me. It calms me to near meditation state, and this summer I'd love to do a little tranquilizing (I always felt bad for those animals in the gorilla movies that got tranquilized. :( ]. I specifically was thinking of either some cool drippy, Jackson Pollock-style piece, or the cover of She & Him's album, which is awesome.

plasticTHERAPY

Read my summer reading books.
Sure, I'll voraciously devour many other books, but I put those in my "Reading is Sexy" sidebar [see left if you are as of yet unfamiliar]. For summer reading (which always pissed me off for this reason: Summer reading is to keep kids reading during the summer, their brains going, blah blah. Then why give summer reading to HONORS kids, who WOULD be reading on their own ANYWAY?) I have to read "Hiroshima" which doesn't sound half bad, and my favorite book EVER (next to Harry Potter), To Kill A Mockingbird. On TKAM, I have to write poems from the point of few of several characters, which should be...interesting and will most likely result in my rhyming "Finch" and "in a cinch." The deal with TKAM, though, is that I read it in early 2007, so I kind of feel protective of it, even though millions and millions of people before me have read it and named it as their favorite book. I always get weird and stuck-up and want people to know that I read it before we had t o for a grade, since there are some kids in my class who don't read for fun and just obsess over grades. (And I'm still first in my class, so SUCK IT. Sorry, had to put that in there. That took so many stressed nights and hard work that I feel like it's ok to brag a little.)
I also hereby declare that I WILL NOT leave my summer reading until the last two weeks of August.

Picture for this subject unavailable, due to total lack of any sort of creativity associated with it.
AP History work
For some insane reason unbeknownst to me, I am taking AP US History next year. Well, I do like history. And I have a crapload of reading and outlining to do this summer. Yay.

Xmoncharmant (NOT MY ROOM)

Clean my room
My room’s been cluttered and really dusty for at least a year, and I always TRY to clean it, but something else in my room captures my attention. Just for a weekend or a few days, I need to buckle down and just CLEAN. I still have my American girls in my room, for Pete’s sake. As nostalgic as they make me, maybe my starting-to-be-pretty-cool room isn’t the best place. Ooh. I’ll post pictures of my favorite stuff in my room when it’s all clean and pretty and camera ready.

Now for things such as trips and concerts:

He doesn’t really have that much hair anymore. [not from deviant art.]

See Billy Joel in concert
That's right, my friends, I dig the Piano Man, and I will be seeing him in concert in early July, and it should be AMAZING. I just love his music, even though it might be "old people music" or whatever. (Old music is better, anyway.) And to top off my super awesomeness (not) I am going with my sister, parents, and grandparents. I honestly love spending time with my grandparents. They are honestly the raddest grandparents ever in an un-rad way, like how I had to teach my grandpa how to click a mouse and he wears those flat Irish caps all the time and always cuts himself shaving.
But back to Billy. This will be my first real "concert" (sad, I know. When I can drive... I'll be at every concert within 100 miles of my town.), since I don't count Warped Tour last year. I'm really excited though, I mean, COME ON. It's Billy Joel. He's a classic. If he plays "Vienna," I might cry, because that's honestly what I do, and if he plays "We Didn't Start the Fire," I fully intend to shout along to the part that Dwight sang on that one episode of The Office:

Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television, North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn MonROE!

(Uhh.. I forgot a picture for this one and don't have time to find one. Enjoy this picture of Jim Sturgess I had on my computer already instead.)

Yum.

Go to San Diego
My dad goes there a lot for business, and I've already been there, but any chance to get out of my hometown is welcomed with open arms. Oo, but something I didn't do the last time I was there was GO TO DISNEYLAND, which I am doing this time. I can't wait to tap into my inner child and get dizzy riding the teacups and running around Sleeping Beauty's castle (the one in California really is Sleeping Beauty's, Cinderella's is in Florida) whilst humming happy happy tunes of joy.
Plus, in San Diego, my dad plans to take us to some kick-ass ethnic restaurants, and I heart food.
And the icing on the cake is that we're going down to the border, and there's this sign with a mother running, dragging a child, and it means "Watch for illegal immigrants." Isn't that the coolest thing you've ever heard?

Glass fields.
[Yep, that’s totally what it looks like at the end of the day.]

Go to Warped Tour
Warped Tour last was so mind-blowingly fun that I'd love to go again, and now that my friend can drive, she can take us, sans-parents. :O That's where the trouble comes in... I just have to convince my mom to 1) let a new driver drive me to the large city that shall remain unnamed and; 2) convince her to let us spend all day without a parent. Fingers crossed! And while Warped is filled with mostly shitty emo bands, that's what makes it fun, watching how seriously everyone takes themselves. But there are going to be some really good bands there, and some pretty good bands that I would like to see. A list:

All Time Low is a bit whiney but they're fun.
BE YOUR OWN PET!!!!!!!!!!! I nearly wept when I saw that name. They are so not emo that I can't WAIT to see Jemina Pearl in action. Seriously, watch some live videos. She's fie-uuuuuce.
Charlotte Sometimes-- I haven't listened to her, but I hear she's kind of indie-pop, which I can always dig.
Katy Perry would be a blast to see.
I LOVED Relient K back in middle school, so it might be fun to see them, just for nostalgia's sake.
I hear Reel Big Fish are good, I should listen to them...
and finally SAY ANYTHING, whom I love.
So Be Your Own Pet and Say Anything for really good. Two out of like 50. That just shows you Warped Tour's demographic, does it not?

Hahahah the names on this band list are so funny : As I Lay Dying, Every Time I Die, All That Remains. Get over yourself and grow the hell up!

seafairy

Go to New England for a weekend
Oh God, that seems so preppy. "Oh, sorry, I can't, I'll be in New England for the weekend." I should rename myself Muffy or Lila or Harrison (if I was a boy) to fit in. But I think we're going to Cape Cod, and my dad wants to swing by Providence: "We can just check out Brown, would you like that?" Ok, yeah, Dad, when Miley Cyrus says something interesting, THAT'S when I'll get into Brown. Precisley for the reason that my name isn't Muffy or Lila or Harrison, and my last name doesn't begin with a Vander and end with a Bilt. (Did you know Anderson Cooper is a Vanderbilt? That's his mom's maiden name. So he's led a very cushy life, I'm sure. Whatever. He's still the most badass news anchor around, if only for his white/gray hair and squint.

The beautiful scenic vistas of New Jersey. Ahem.

Visit family in New Jersey
While my parents jet off to Yellowstone, they are leaving me for four long days under the rule of my disgustingly unhygienic older brother. But luckily my afore-mentioned grandparents will come to rescue me from his hair-in-the-sink world and bring me and my sister to….. New Jersey for a week.
Not going to lie, I hate New Jersey. I’m sorry, it’s just an opinion, I can see why plenty of people would hate Pennsylvania, but the only good part of New Jersey is my family and the shore. I could go on and on about how it’s all highways and development, but that would be tedious, so I won’t. But going to my grandma’s without my parents is great because my sister and I get the spare bedroom with the TV, and we stay up until the wee hours of the morning watching old Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show reruns on Nick at Nite. And I get to go to the beach for a day, visit all my cousins, etc. Plus my grandparents are taking us to New York to see the Bodies exhibit, where they, for lack of a better word, “freeze” a bunch of dead bodies is cool positions and you see all the muscles and stuff. It’s going to be morbid and grisly and all around great.

Because it made me laugh.

Band camp
Yes, I’m a band geek. And no, I haven’t seen American Pie, but I’m sure it’s nothing like that, I’ve heard all the, “This one time, at band camp…” jokes and camp is nothing like that. It’s at school every day for two weeks, and while the people who march are outside in the sweltering heat getting burnt, my section, the mallet section who doesn’t march, stays inside the (albeit, un-air-conditioned) band room and pretend to practice when our director walks in and gives us the hairy eyeball but otherwise we eat and get water and Gatorade for the rest of the band and those of us who can play the piano do so, and we cram in last minute summer reading while listening to the rest of the band bitch and moan about how “Pit doesn’t do anything” when they come in for a break. Whatever. At least I don’t play the sousaphone, ok guys?

That is pretty much the extent of my summer. It looks good written down, but in reality I have a lot of boring free weeks to sit around on my ass and blog. Yayyyyyy.

What are you going to be up to this summer?

Juxxo

(Hopefully something a little less dependant on anti-gravity forces than that.)

I had one more picture I wanted to share. I found this really cool (if it can be called that), colorful propaganda poster from WWII. I just found it interesting. I guess if you love art enough even the colors in a propaganda poster interest you, as they do me.

Have a lovely, propaganda-free rest of your day!

Listen to: “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. Bah-ZING.

Peace.
a.

P.S. All pictures are credit of the talented people over at deviantart, unless otherwise noted. The propaganda one just came from a google search. I put the name of the artist underneath the picture, in case they some how manage to find me and sue me for copyright infringement or something, because that’s the kind of thing that happens to me.

What's so simple in the moonlight, so simple in the moonlight

2008-06-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

This post is in dedication to the saddest, most beautiful song I have ever heard: Bright Eyes' "Lua." The pure art of this song has affected me and pained me more than any other song I have heard, really and truly.

But let's start with some background, shall we? Oh, wonderful answer, I think we shall, too.

I've read articles in Nylon, heard through the grapevine (great Marvin Gaye song, by the way) about the genius of Conor Oberst, the "voice of his generation," the "New Dylan OMGZZZZZ" etc, etc. I had two Bright Eyes songs on my ipod, and I really loved "Four Winds" which has incredible lyrics, but has a rollicking country-song feel to it, instrumentally, so I didn't completely appreciate the emotion he infuses, nay, POURS, into his songs. I always kind of thought Bright Eyes was for emo kids who are not understood by, like, ANYONE, and cried a lot. But how wrong I was! In my opinion, Bright Eyes= indie. NOT emo. Where was I going with this? Oh, crap. Right.

I was flipping through an old Entertainment Weekly, and there was a little "mini-mag" if you will called, "The Indie 25", and it basically named the best indie record for each year for the last--that's right, you guessed it!--25 years, with a little write-up about each one. For 2005, they named Bright Eyes' I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, as the best, and the write-up, it mentioned "instant classics such as 'Lua' and 'Landlocked Blues'." So I was bored on Friday, just on the computer, and decided to type up "Lua" into youtube and this video came up, and it was quite possibly the saddest, sweetest, most touching thing I have ever seen. Or at least NEARLY the most touching. I'm very easily touched. A song, a book, a story, a beautiful day, anything will move me to tears. Yeah, I know. Freak. But here it is. Watch it. And I know whenever people post videos on blogs, I usually ignore them, it's really bad, but ignore my hypocrisy and watch this one. I hope you like it though. That would suck if I'm going on and on about how great it is and someone really hates it. Oh here's the freaking video:

After I finished watching it, I stared through the computer screen for about five minutes, my eyes pricking. And then I just started crying. The utter loveliness of that video... the setting sun, Conor's terrified gulp in the beginning, the raw, raw emotion in his voice, and how I expect he was ready to start crying at any minute, the sheer humanity (as Conor so well put it--did his girly, "like" infested speaking manner surprise anyone else?) of the situation. His quivering voice portrays so much pain, I am disgusted to no extent by the glossy pop-punk shit out there. When he gets to "you're looking skinny like a model with your eyes all painted black..." It's indescribable. And no other atmosphere could fit that song so perfectly--the complete stillness of the crowd, with the setting sun, transfixed by the simple words and guitar. I looked up another live version where the show is inside, and people are singing along, and it's nowhere near as affecting. This just isn't one of those songs you sing along to. It’s just not, ok? People sing along to Miley Cyrus, which automatically nixes this song from all “Song To Sing Along To” lists.

Watching/ listening to that video shook me to the core, and I tried listening to other music, but everything sounded fake and jarring, so I tried reading, but I couldn't focus. The song had simply affected me, and I had this melancholy feeling all day long. I did my civic duty and aquired the song by... limewire... and synced my ipod, blah blah blah. But the weird thing is, I couldn't bring myself to listen to the song. It was like some scary thing lying in my ipod, and even the thought of it gave me a little stab of pain. It wasn't just any other song that I could listen to over and over. It was a magic piece of art that deserved to be relished with each listen. I finally brought my self to listen to it, but only at night, lying on my floor with my eyes closed. It's too special of a song, it seems reserved for poignant moments in life, like midnight, or a solo drive on a country road in the moonlight, under a huge sky sprinkled with stars.

So the song inspired me to listen to some other Bright Eyes songs, and I have officially jumped on the "Conor Oberst is a total and complete genius" bandwagon. The melodies may not be catchy, and the instruments are normally minimal… but the emotion in those songs is difficult to describe. And the lyrics… I wonder how a singular person can come up with such beautiful, true, genius phrases that could absolutely be mistaken for a piece of poetry if written down.

“and i sat watching a flower as it was withering
i was embarrassed by its honesty”

“so i'd prefer to be remembered as a smiling face
not this fucking wreck that’s taken it's place.”

“your eyes must do some raining if you’re ever going to grow.”
“the bible’s blind, the torah’s deaf, the Koran is mute, if you burn ‘em all together you get close to the truth.”

I’m so jealous. Why do some people get all the talent? But I guess if it was spread out amongst several people, we wouldn’t have the amazing Bright Eyes to admire, now would we?

Yeah, a lot of emo kids love Bright Eyes, but I AM NOT EMO. And “Lua” has affected me as no other song ever has. I know left feeling empty by so many others songs that are far too glassy and polished, surface only. I love Bright Eyes, maybe you can, too.

Cheer up, Conor! Actually, don’t. Sadness=songs=art= Happy Anna.

Listen: Hopefully you can figure this out on your own. If not… get out.

Peace!
a.

P.S. Chelsea left me a comment in POEM form on my last post. It’s so awesome it kind of hurts my brain.
P.P.S. Also watch the video for “First Day of My Life.” The couple at the end are so perfect that I am almost too envious to be appreciative of love. Almost.

I can't stop loving British men.

2008-06-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, kittenfluffs!

I hate kittens. Ick.

But anyhow, a few weeks ago I was ~~rotting in front of a computer screen~~ on the computer and I came across this gem of a quote:

British actor Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies) won't be moving to LA anytime soon because he 'can’t be bothered with airhead actresses'.
According to Rupe, he met Lindsay Lohan last summer and wasn't impressed as, "she talked about herself a lot." Grint went on to recall that, "She (La Lohan) said she was going to win an Oscar before she turns 25. I just kept thinking, ‘But you can’t act’.”

How can you NOT love Rupert Grint? HONESTLY. Give me one thing that might detract from his sheer adorable-ness. Yeah. I couldn’t think of one either. He has a rad accent, I could picture him, like.... ok this is cheesy, but I could picture him helping someone pick up their books if they dropped them or something along those lines. Or help an old lady across the street. That seems in his realm. His hair is red and he calls it "ginger" which is even better, he personifies Ron Weasley in a way no one else ever could, and he seems perpetually sleepy, which is kind of cool, too.

And he's so right about La Lohan that I wish he weren't so nice and would have told her to her face. I wanted to say something witty here, but nothing's coming. Oy.

My second story involving a British man can be filed under "school library." Oh, what? You don't have a "school library" file? That's unfortunate. So I was in my school library for a class, flipping through the "New Books" rack-y thing (yes, that is the proper terminology), just blahblahblah, stodgy old classic blah and then I flipped across this book, and it was like a lightning bolt. Across my dark sky. Ohhh. Simile. (When I was younger, I always got "simile" and "smile" messed up. I'm sure this is a common mistake.)

YES. IT IS WHO YOU THINK IT IS.

ALEX FREAKING TURNER. ON A BOOK. IN MY SCHOOL LIBRARY.

And not only is it Alex Turner, but it is an utterly orgasmic picture of Alex Turner, wearing a hoodie, with his "I'm a sexy rock god" face on. I wanted to go to my librarian and vigorously shake her hand in gratitude but I thought that might freak her/my fellow students out a bit, so I restrained myself, instead staring at the book for several minutes, and flipping through it, I discovered that it was a kick-ass book, filled with pictures of some of my favorite bands. BESTEST LIBRARY SCHOOL BOOK EVAAAAAAA!

And while she is not British OR a man, I can't stop LISTENING to "Mercy" by Duffy who is, in fact, a Welsh woman. She has an incredibly intriguing voice, plucked straight from the girl groups of the 60s, and "Mercy" is just really catchy. I lurvs it.

Also, listen to: "Black Hole" by She & Him, a lovely country-pop ditty, sung with finesse and cheer by Zooey Deschanel, as I'm sure you all know, since you are all just so hip and awesome.
And "Holland, 1945" by Neutral Milk Hotel, a staticky, horn-filled oddity which is actually about Anne Frank. Look up the meanings of the lyrics, it's really fascinating.

Au revoir, IT'S SUMMMMMMMMMMMMER!

peace.
a.

But WAIT! It IS my birthday!

2008-06-04T17:57:00.001-07:00

Yes folks, I am indeed sixteen today. Woot. Woot woot. Sixteen for me means DRIVING, which is important for kids who go to Catholic school since our friends aren’t all from the same district. Birthdays are so weird. It’s like I should feel different, or extra special, or something, but I don’t. It’s not like I did anything to deserve recognition. I’m not the one who went through hours of labor and pushed a baby out. All I did was nestle in the womb and cry a lot.

Is this getting too graphic? So be it.
School’s over very shortly, so I’ll be able to blog to my heart’s content. Hopefully I’ll have some interesting posts, since I’ve been MIA for a while.

OH MY GOD SUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Listen:
“The Remedy” by Jason Mraz. C’mon. Admit it. You totally loved this song in middle school.

Once school is over

2008-05-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am just going to blog, a lot. As for now, I can barely find a spare moment to write this lame explanation... School finals are coming up, and I can't see from under this mountain of books. Oh blessed summer, where art thou?

Plus, I have to go to New Jersey this weekend for my cousin's wedding. It's going to be this huge affair with lots of people from the hair salon my aunt works in. It's going to be over-the-top and there will be many tacky people there and I can't wait.

On a side note, WOOOOOOOOO, Cookie won American Idol. Not that anyone in the blogosphere other than myself sinks to the level to watch it... but I was happy. Jason sang "Hallelujah" again. I'll just leave you with this picture....

Listen: 'Loser' by Beck

peace!
a

Help me! I'm drowning...

2008-04-30T18:32:00.001-07:00

...under a sea of work. Plus, prom is Friday, so look for a post this weekend!

What'u know 'bout me what'u what'u know 'bout me?

2008-04-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

For the record, I REALLY hate that song.

So… flipping through my mental Rolodex of post ideas as I often do (it’s been pretty empty lately), I thought of those tags where you have to tell 8/ 10 things about yourself. Well, I didn’t get tagged, so I’m just doing it anyway. I tried to think of things that could possibly be classified as interesting, in some parallel universe…

1) I have an orange piano.
I’d wanted to play piano for YEARS, until in 7th grade my friend told me about a family friend who was giving away their piano for free. Free is my favorite number, so we jumped on the chance, went to see the piano. It was big. And orange. But, hey, free is free. So we put it into my house on Christmas Eve day. I have the quirkiest piano I’ve ever encountered—it’s been painted this lovely orange, and it’s huge—tall, that is. It was actually made in the twenties, and it used to be a player piano. It’s out of tune, and several keys are so horribly tuned that they are basically the sound of someone whacking the strings with a hammer. Or… something. It’s so weird to think that my piano was in someone else’s house—it seems so truly mine, such a part of my house. I love banging out Hush Sound tunes while swaying violently. My piano is basically my personality manifested in an instrument: odd, quirky, offbeat, with a few bum notes every now and then but if you know me really well you don’t even notice. I can be loud or soft (ie, QUIET), depending on I’m with. Voila. I= piano.

2) I love climbing trees.

I am at home among the branches, green leaves brushing my face. I love just climbing, higher, higher. Swinging my feet twenty feet off the ground is simply exhilarating. When the wind blows, and branches sway all around me but the trunk stands still, I feel this deep connection the earth. I know that’s crunchy and shit, but it’s so true.

3) I am obsessed with Jason Castro.
Every year, I say, “I’m not going to watch American Idol this year.” Especially after last year, everyone pretty much sucked. But every year I find my self flipping on Fox with a sigh of, “God, I can’t believe I subject myself to this.” Well this year, my friend frantically came into school one day (it was top 24 week, which I did not partake in) gushing about this Jason Castro go. Went home, looked up his performance, saw his beautiful eyes, sexy hands and beyond-cool dreds, and I was gone. My friend and I frantically IM every Tuesday during the show, hoping that Jason will pick a good song and squealing like little girls every time he does something funny. We always wonder in astonishment why we find him so attractive—we can’t figure it out for the life of us, and we share our minute-by-minute reactions. It’s great fun. Watching TV with someone not there is about the greatest way to watch TV. On Wednesdays (results show night, for those of you with lives), we IM frantically again, and literally shake (yes, we get THAT nervous for Jason), and when he is safe, a lot of this is involved: “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.” But multiply it by a thousand.

EYES. EYES. EYES.

We plan on going to the American Idols Live tour this summer and making t-shirts. If we could meet Jason… I’m pretty sure I would just freeze up and gape. See how we sink so low, just for our love of a slightly-girly man? But listen to him sing “Hallelujah” or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and try NOT to appreciate how he so does not fit the cookie-cutter Idol mold. CASTRONETTES O8, Y’ALL!!!

4) I am 5’10”.
Thank you, Person I Have Not Seen In A While, I AM tall, thank you so much for noticing. What’s that? You say I’m taller than my mom? Am I REALLY, thank you SO much for pointing that out to me!
Yeah, I’m really tall. I don’t really notice it, considering…well, I’m always at that altitude, so it’s not a big deal. It certainly comes in handy though. I get a lot of “HOW can you REACH that?” I just laugh cryptically. It’s great fun. The only down side is that I’m taller than many guys, including my prom date. :/. Ah, well. It worked for Nicole and Keith.

5) I love old things.

Everything’s better with a story behind it. I’d rather borrow great Art Deco jewelry from my grandma for prom than go to Penneys and get some crappy stuff. I love old books, old photographs, old people. A hand-sewn blanket is so much more rewarding than a store-bought, new one. Why buy a new belt when I can wear one of my mom’s from the seventies? I just love the feeling of being connected to the past, of reusing things. Who wore these suspenders before I did? I’ll never know, but I can wonder about it.

6) I had jaundice when I was a baby.
Yes, I came out a weird peachy-rose color, but quickly turned yellow. Not, like, SUNSHINE yellow, but a tint of yellow all the same. So my mom just sat me in the sun every afternoon and voila, normal baby color. Good thing I didn’t get jaundice as an adult—the whites of your eyes turn yellow. Can you say CREEPY? I won’t frighten you with a picture. Brave souls, feel free to unearth one yourself.
Maybe that’s why I love the sun so much…

7) I am terrified of open heights.

I have no problem being in a plane, 15,000 feet above the ground. In fact, I prefer the window seat, and I love staring out the window and thinking about how high up I am. But open heights? Forget it. A visit to the Grand Canyon in the summer after 3rd grade resulting in my staying a good thirty feet away from the guardrail, shaking, unable to move, and convinced that the cliff-y thing we were on was just going to break off. In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge freaked me out so much that I gripped the inner handrail the whole time, just sliding my hand along, resulting in disgustingly blackened palm. Even balconies in buildings, I can’t bring myself to look over the edge, I’m so convinced the barrier is just going to disintegrate and I will be plunged to my death on the tiles below. God, I hate open heights.

8) I am considering joining Facebook just for the groups.
I was pretty “anti-Facebook” for a while, convincing myself that it would just be another distraction for me when I am attempting to complete homework. Then a few days ago, my friend let me sign in under her name to see the guest list of a little shindig we are attending. I then discovered the groups. Oh my, the groups. They’re so addictive, it’s not even funny. I’ve already logged on several times as my friend and just browsed the groups for…a long time. Here are just some of the ones I’ve found so far:

Wonderfully [un]witty comments by me in bold

No, I haven’t read that literary classic—but I’ve seen the Wishbone!
Reading is sexy
No, I can’t hang out with you on July 21st, HOW DARE YOU ASK?
Because of Edward Cullen, human boys have lost their charm From Twilight
I can’t accept that fictional characters aren’t real This is so true it's not even funny
Everything I need to know about life I learned from star wars
People who know the difference between “you’re” and “your” I'm a Nazi when it comes to that
I read books because I actually want to
Basically, I’m in love with fictional men
Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. PRINCESS BRIDE. GAHAHHA.
It’s ok, we all waited for our Hogwarts acceptance letters, too
Fuck this, I’m Going to Hogwarts
I Hate Everyone (Little Miss Sunshine appreciation club)
I Wish I Could Dance Like Dwayne Hoover
I’m a little bit in love with Jim Halpert
Eff you, society. I’m going into the wild.
I Went to Catholic School and was pissed when the CCD kids trashed my desk You will only get this if you went to Catholic school, I literally burst out laughing when I read this. Every Monday, it would be... "THE CCD KIDS STOLE MY RULER AGAIN!!!"
It’s my life goal to talk as cleverly as Juno MacGuff.
Stop Killing the Environment
I Get Weird looks when I go into public places in my school uniform On Ash Wednesday, I enjoy going around with my cross of ashes and my forehead and getting looks that clearly portray: Is she is some sort of cult?
Why, yes, I do frequently burst out in song
People Who raced raindrops on car windows as children
Automatic doors make me feel like a jedi I need to find a t-shirt with this
I have to sing the ABC’s to know which letter comes before the other
When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.
No, I don’t care if I die at 12 AM, I’m not passing on your chain letter.
You were hot until you put that cigarette in your mouth
Hippie Children Born in the wrong generation
I Look for good climbing trees rather than the opposite sex
All I Ever needed to know, I learned from Elizabeth Bennet.
I judge you when you use poor grammar.
Disney gave me unrealistic expectations about love
American by birth, Irish by blood.
Shut up, historians. Pocahontas and John Smith were soul-mates.
There’s NO WAY Pocahontas could have survived jumping off that cliff.
Fred Weasley, we salute you.
Is that an accent? Pardon me as I undress…
“Flight of the Concords” makes my world a brighter place
I can’t wait for Sufjan Stevens to make a CD about my state
I can’t stop listening to Regina Spektor
Holden Caulfield is my brilliantly sarcastic hero. [For the record, I couldn't finish that book, I disliked it quite a bit, but some might appreciate the group.]

And quite possibly the best one yet….

I read the group name, I laugh, I join, I never look at it again.

So now you know a bit more about the enigma that is I. Tell me some lusciously dishy (what an awful word!) secrets about yo’self! Since those were SO juicy. Bah.

Look for a Disney princess post in the coming days... God, to be six again!

listen: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Jason Castro!

anna

the earth laughs in flowers.

2008-04-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

I love that. Up there. That sentence up there. It's so sweet and true. When have you not cheered a tiny eensy bit at seeing flowers? It's ee cummings. I, lyke, so totally luvvers ee cummings. I have a great book of his poetry. Oooh... I smell a post topic....

Yes, I KNOW the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz had some drug reference. Whatever. Opium schmopium. Does that stop you from just wanting to fall asleep among that cloud of red? Oh, never mind the wicked witch on my tail, I'll just sleep forever in this endless red, with blue checks on my dress and ruby slippers on my feet. And a man made of tin by my side.

You probably know by now that it is very rare for my posts to have any sort of theme or train of thought. Don't expect anything different for this one.

This is the COOLEST. PLAYGROUND. I HAVE EVER. SEEN. Ever. Period. This is not an opinion. This is a fact. In my school's art room, there's a chair painted with breakfast food...sausages, a orange with a straw stuck in it, a frying pan with eggs on the seat, pancakes dripping with syrup...and I've obsessed with that chair. Seriously. I MUST sit in that chair. It's my good luck chair, and if any one else sits in it, I'm down in the dumps for the entire art class. This is the PLAYGROUND version of that chair. Honestly, why does MY hometown not have this playground? Why slide on a boring old SLIDE when you can slide on a piece of bacon???? Exactly. There's no reason why you wouldn't. How awesome would it be to get up in the morning and say, "Hey mom, can we go to the BREAKFAST playground today? I feel the need to straddle a piece of sausage."

And so there is your daily dose of random, courtesy of Lights, Camera, Chaos!.Can I do that? An exclamation point, THEN a comma. Hmmmmmmmmm. Grammar is bothersome.

song of the day, I suppose: "Gray Or Blue" by Jaymay. Comments: This is what music's all about--pure, sweet emotion.

ahhhhhhhhnahhhhhhh.

Hippie hippie shake

2008-04-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

I do believe my alter ego lives in the city of Portland, Oregon. It was simply SPLENDID.

Here is my school newspaper article. As I am too lazy/lame to write a new one.

I have been living a lie. I do not really live in [insert town name here]. No, the truth is that my soul lives in Portland, Oregon. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the city over Easter break, and I completely fell in love. The city’s vibe and mine seemed to be on the same wavelength. Vibe. How appropriate a word, considering the city has a reputation of being super-liberal and “crunchy.” While they are hundreds of things to love about the great city of Portland, listing all one hundred in an article is admittedly overkill. I find nine to be a bit more realistic.

9 Things to Love About Portland, Oregon

1) The Indie Rock Scene- Portland undeniably has an amazing underground music scene, one while has exploded in the past decade. Creative spirits such as literary-rock group The Decemberists, folkie M. Ward, and quintessential indie-rock band The Shins all currently call Portland their home and the late Elliott Smith made the city his adopted hometown. The city is a magnet for bands to visit when touring, and as a matter of fact, spectacular band Vampire Weekend was making a pit stop in Portland the day after I left. I defy you, stars! The cities are few and far between where the gentle strains of the afore-mentioned Shins are heard wafting from the speakers in a restaurant, and Portland is one of those cities.

2) Catering to the bike lifestyle- Valet parking for bikes? Bike-in movies? Look no further than Portland, a city of bicycle enthusiasts, and the city makes getting around on two wheels easy and safe. Many streets have a “cyclers-only” lane, and the city’s many trolleys contain designated hooks on which to hang one’s bike. This abundance of bicycles leads to a blessed lack of cars—automobiles are extremely scarce for a city of this size, stop-lights rare, and, therefore, pollution is minimal. In some places of the city, you could actually stand in the middle of the streets for a good thirty seconds without a car hitting you (don’t try this at home, kids). It’s enough to make anyone want to toss away their car keys forever and instead pick up a bike lock (for use on the cities myriad bike racks).

3) Eco-friendly lifestyle, tree-hugging people-The city consistently tops lists of the greenest American cities, and its public transportation system is one of the best in the nation. Thirty years ago, the city tore down a six-lane highway to build a waterfront park. City planners have sent specific boundaries where the city ends to prevent urban sprawl, and nearly half of the city’s energy comes from hydroelectric sources. Free trams constantly criss-cross the city and a bus is never hard to find. This feeling of responsibility for and love of the earth can be found throughout all of Oregon—even the license plate has a pine tree on it.

4) The people- Portlanders tend to be a relatively quiet, hardworking, often artistic people, and the types of people there run the gamut. While there are many Portlanders whose family histories are rooted in the city, in recent years a huge influx of young twenty-somethings has occurred. There is youth everywhere you turn in Portland, and a dizzying array of styles is represented—everything from Mohawk-and-plaid-sporting punks to Vans-clad skaters gliding down the street to the scruffy haired, cardigan-and-Chucks-wearing, soft-spoken indie kids, those who work in coffee shops and record stores by day so they can play their music or make art by night. The city is not just filled with younger people, however; families play in parks and elderly couples walk down the street hand-in-hand. Portlanders aren’t overly concerned with being cool—they just are. While in a coffee shop (in true indie-fashion, we spurned the Starbucks across the street for a locally owned café—what can I say, the city’s spirit is infectious) I overheard a young woman telling the guy behind the counter that she was going to an all-night Monopoly tournament. The people there are genuinely nice, as well—in the same coffee shop, the woman working put three extra pumps of vanilla syrup into my latte because she overheard me say to my dad that I like a lot of flavor. The people are always quick with a smile, and quick and gracious to hold a door open.

5) Proximity to the unparalleled Oregon coast- Just an hour and a half drive from the center of Portland is the staggering Oregon coast—a breathtaking area of dizzyingly-sheer cliffs, ancient elm trees, vast expanses of sparkling water, and poetic rocky beaches. It all seems so untouched, real, natural. The drive to the coast isn’t exactly boring, either—a ten-minute driving, increasing in elevation, brings you from Lord-of-the-Rings-esque forests—all moss-covered trees, bubbling streams, and sunlight peaking through the canopy of the leaves—to more Chronicles-of-Narnia-style pine forests dusted with a frosting of pure white snow. The Oregon coast is truly unlike any other place in the world.

6) The laid-back atmosphere- Perhaps it’s because I’m an East Coaster, and we tend to be hurried and irascible people, but when I first arrived in Portland, it was a bit unsetting how calm people were there. The airport was even quieter. People walked slowly, made less noise. So they might have missed their plane, no big deal. In Portland, very few people let things bother them. In the three days I spent in the city, I truly did not hear one utterance of a car horn. The city emits a hippie, earthy vibe, which made my secretly-hippie heart feel right at home. Though often overshadowed by pretentious neighbor Seattle, Portland is far more relaxing, inviting and warm (though not in temperature—it either rained or was cloudy two out of three days), perhaps because its people are less buzzed on caffeine than those of rival Seattle. Portland needs no shallow reassurance of how awesome it is—every building, every stoplight and tree and rock oozes with nonchalance.

7) Powell’s Book Store- Powell’s is absolutely enormous, a four-floor, 32,500 square-foot labyrinth of towering bookcases stuffed with volumes that seem as though they might just tip over at any given moment. Books are simply everywhere—a person could barely spread his or her arms without brushing some sort of paper. Any book lover could get lost (literally, a map, available at the front desk, is extremely helpful) among the shelves. Not only are new books for sale, but many used books as well, and on the top floor there is an entire room devoted to rare books. Prices are cheap and the staff is helpful. It’s a kind of wonderland for the bibliophiles among us, and people come from all over to see the store.

8) Portland Saturday Market- On Saturdays and Sundays from March to Christmas Eve, this arts-and-crafts fair is open near the Skidmore Fountain, under the Burnside Bridge. Three hundred artists sell their crafts, and the selection is staggering: canvas paintings, bumper sticks and buttons, scarves, knit hats, earrings, folk art, wood crafts (such as barrettes, spoons, and pepper mills), hand-painted t-shirts, baked goods, clothing, duct-tape wallets, leather sandals, and countless other items are for sale by local artists. It was a rarely beautiful day in Portland when I went, sunny, slightly warm, and breezy, and the square was packed with people. Aside from the crafts for sale, the people-watching is the best in the city, and all sorts of people drift in and out. Street musicians are scattered all over, and scheduled acts perform on the main stage. The food court is also amazing, sending smells from all over the world filling the market (I tried Lebanese and African food). The market is one of the Portland arts scene’s crowning jewels.

9) The Pearl District- Dubbed the Soho of Portland, the Pearl District has surprises around every corner—independently owned shops of every kind. We came across a vintage store stuffed with 50s frocks, a record store (High Fidelity-style), a gourmet cupcake shop, and several fair-trade stores, filled with goods from straw baskets crafted in Ugandan villages to hand-woven cotton dresses made in the mountains of Nepal, made by craftsmen and women for fair wages and in sanitary conditions. Once inhabited by starving artists, the Pearl District is now teeming with young hipsters, and the creative spirit of the district can be felt with just a stroll through.

Perhaps the city’s slogan sums the city’s spirit up the best: “It’s not easy being green.” It may not be easy, but the payoff is certainly worthwhile.

___________________________________________________

Voila. Obviously, I couldn't say this in my article, but the super cliche snobby hipsters were SO FUCKING ANNOYING I WANTED TO TEAR THEIR "IRONIC" CLOTHES OFF THEIR EMACIATED FRAMES.

GOD. GET OVER YOURSELF. YOU'RE NOT DEEP! STOP TRYING TO BE DEEP!

Oh. That being said, they were many adorable indie boys in coffee shops with whom I completely and irrevocably fell in love.

I can't figure out how to resize these gosh darn pictures. Or as they say here, "pitchers."

Me being stupid and pretending to jump over the fence. The cliff was so sheer that I was frightened of going near the edge. Note the obstructed face.

Pure, pure beauty.

My sister and I took about fifty takes of jumping pictures trying to get it right.

I'm wearing my vintage rainbow suspenders! I should take a better picture of those to post. They're incredible.

It was my mom's idea.

Ooh! In a fair trade store there I got a spectacular MAKE ART NOT WAR poster. It's very hippie-esque. I'll take a picture.

Cherry blossom trees by the river in Portland.

A hipster at the Market. I liked her outfit, ok? And NO it wasn't weird or obvious that I was pointing my lens at her...

Inside a fair trade store.

There is a Cupcake God, after all.

And you expect me NOT to give my heart to this city...??

Song of the day/week/whatever: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon. Comments: BAH-ZING.

a.

oh, inverted world.

2008-03-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

I LOVE SPRING!!!!

Alright, so TECHNICALLY it might still be chilly and cloudy here. But that doesn't matter! No, what matters is that IT IS OFFICIALLY SPRING. ahhhhhhh. feels good. I detest winter.

Cherry Blossom Girl takes THE most stunning photographs.

So Libby from Ice Cube Confidential filled out this darling little questionaire and instead of waiting to get tagged or whatever (What silly person would do that?), I tagged myself.

8 things I am passionate about:
1) Books. I LOVE READING. I LOVE IT. Borders is my second home, it gives me this incredibly feeling of safety. Like, "Nothing can hurt me here. I'm among books."
2) Art. Painting relaxes me like nothing else. The art room is my favorite room in the school.
3) Philantropy. I just want to heal the world. I want to go to Africa and help orphans, and start a non-profit organization and end global warming. I just want to be a do-good superhero! Do-Good Woman!
4) Writing. Journaling (as 3rd grade as that sounds) is a great way to get all my emotions out without ripping someone's head off.
5) Travel. I love seeing new places, experiencing new things.
6) Music. Lame and cliche, but it's true. I love listening to it and especially playing it. I play my piano constantly.
7) My future. I work so hard, just so I'll be able to do great things.
8) Food. God, I just love food. Need I say more. I think not.

6 Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1) Travel the world, preferably alone.
2) Live in a city.
3) Fall in love.
4) Have 3 or 4 kids.
5) Do something insane... like bungee-jumping.
6) Write a novel. It doesn't have to get published, I jsut want to write one.

6 Things I Say Often:
1) You're a freak.
2) That's unfortunate.
3) Hello, love!
4) Brilliant
5) What's your beef?
6) Son (I call everyone son)

6 Books I Have Read Lately:
1) Twilight--It was surprisingly good, considering 8th graders on my bus read it. CEDRICDIGGORYASEDWARDYESSSS.
2) The Constant Princess
3) White Oleander- Beautiful, but sad and disturbing, too.
4) The Virgin Suicides
Uhhhh.... how sad is it that I can't remember? I read a lot, but I drop a book if I'm bored.
5) I reread A Great and Terrible Beauty in preparation for reading the new one
6) I'm COMPLETELY having a brain fart......... I've started so many books and not finished them that I can't remember.

That was embarrassing! I go on and on about how I love books and I can't even remember the last six I've read.

10 Songs I Could Hear Over And Over:
1) Life Is A Song- Patrick Park
2) When the Sun Goes Down- Arctic Monkeys
3) New Slang- The Shins
4) We Intertwined- The Hush Sound
5) Lighthouse- The Hush Sound
6) Blackbird- The Beatles
7) Vienna- Billy Joel
8) Lake Michigan- Rogue Wave
9) I Will Follow You Into the Dark- Death Cab for Cutie
10) Spit On a Stranger- Nickel Creek

6 Things That Make Me Like My Best Friend(s):
1) I don't always have to be talking when I'm around them. I can walk down the hall with them and not talk, and it's not awkward, it's just a commonly accepted silence. We can just be when we're together.
2) That said, when we talk, we talk a lot. About very odd things.
3) They understand my strange obsessions, and fuel them because chances are they're obsessed too.
4) They make the most mundane things fun.
5) I'm not afraid to say anything to them. I make strange noises, and just let things fall out of my mouth.
6) We're all smart. I know that seems shallow, but I love being able to use big words around them and they get what I'm talking about.

So I will be participating in the most ridiculous and cliche of high school events... Prom. Oh yes, prom. My friend in 11th grade invited me, or else I wouldn't be able to go. I'm really bad at girly things. I already told him I don't want flowers and crap, and I refused to give his mother a fabric swatch. A FABRIC SWATCH. ARE YOU JOKING? I was just like, "Uhhh.. it's not a big deal to me if we don't match." I'm so jaded, it's pathetic.

But look at this gorgeous GORGEOUS vintage dress I missed out on on ebay a few weeks back, in the last 6 seconds of the auction. I was devastating. Kicking the computer may have been involved.

the COLOR. SWEET JESUS THE COLOR. Why must I continue to look at it? It's just rubbing salt into my wounds. And I had it for the last 20 seconds, too. THAT'S WHAT'S SO FRUSTRATING. Ok, just move on.

This is mine instead:

It's from the early sixties.

alright, peace friends.
a.

PS-- Listen to "The Kelly Affair" by Be Your Own Pet

I best get me some Birkenstocks.

2008-03-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

That's right, dear reader! Readers, on a good day... I am going to the liberal mecca of all liberal meccas, this Easter vacation... PORTLAND, OREGON! I'm pretty damn excited. While it will be gray and rainy and such, I am sure, how can I NOT be excited? The city offers valet parking for bikes! What could possibly compete with that?

I just want to do a quick post to ~~gloat~~ let you know. I'll be writing an article about this later chapter in my jet-setting life for my school newspaper, so I'll post it here.

And also I wanted to share a few entertainment-related things. "Things" is such a boring word. How about... entities? No, that's not right. "Things" it is!

First: Every now and then, the hype machine gets it right (such as with Arctic Monkeys) and they've most certainly got it right this time. God, what an atrocious sentence. It sounds like something that would appear in my dismally horrible local paper. Blergh. But ANYWAY, I have recently be totally delving into the complete brilliance of Vampire Weekend. Their Upper-East-Side-prep-Afro-infused-jangly-indie-rock is irresitable.

I'm also in awe of the sheer adorableness (DEFINITELY not a word) of the lead singer, Ezra Koenig. More people need to name their sons Ezra. It's just a great name. If you're geekily hot and skinny with a laid-back singing voice, it's just perfect. However, if you're the geeky hide-in-my-room-and-play-WOW-all-day type, it would better be classified as "unfortunate." It's how in how you carry it, my friends.

Second, The Hush Sound released a new album yesterday, Goodbye Blues, and of course I already have downloaded it... from Limewire. Man, I'm so horrible. Why can't I just support my favorite artists? But moving on, it's a great album. Not quite as so-catchy-it-should-be-illegal as Like Vines, but still great. It has a BIT more of a bluesy feel to it, without sacrifice their bright indie-pop I love so much and both makes me wonder why they aren't more popular AND be really glad I have a band I get to call all mine (knock on wood) in the same thought.

And thirdly, I am currently reading, just for a nice light read, Twilight. Perhaps you know it better as... the story of the girl who falls in love with the vampire? Well, I'm absolutely tearing through it, partly because it is really good and partly because the wording is super simple and the words are kind of big.

A movie is actually being made with Kristen Stewart as the narrator and.....

ROBERT PATTINSON AS EDWARD (the vampire)!
Aka Cedric Diggory.
He's the reason I've watched Goblet of Fire so much. SO. SO. HOT.
The only thing that could ruin it is if his American accent sucks (coughJimSturgess21cough). I think he fits the character quite perfectly. So fingers crossed that they don't fuck up the book too badly.

Listen: Other than THS and Vampire Weekend, listen to "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" by She & Him. She being ZOOEY DESCHANEL and Him being M. Ward! Could you ask for a better pairing? I think not. This song is incredible. The simple summery swing to it is irresitable and Zooey's voice is coy and playful.

happy... spring holiday of your choosing!

a.

PS. When Chikezie Cheesy whatever screwed up "I've Just Seen A Face" on Idol last night (yes, I watch American Idol, shut your face) I had to listen to Jimmy Sturg's version immediately after to remind me how much I love that song. How dare you Cheesy????

Harps, Teapots, and Alaska

2008-03-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

Joanna Newsom inspires me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a person quite so elfin and ethereal, who embodies a fantasy world of long messy hair and fairies. While her voice is a bit grating to my ears, her whole being inspires me. The harp is such a beautiful, ancient instrument. She’s simply otherworldly, too delicate and mystical to belong to the mundane earth.

That harp’s hella big. And no, I really don’t use “hella” in daily conversation.

I would dress like that every day if I could. And she’s a hair idol of mine, as a matter of fact.

I’ve always wanted to play the harp, but then I remember that they made a big deal of Elizabeth Smart’s playing of the harp when she was missing, and I can help but get skeeved out.

If I were an artist, she might be my muse.

Moving on the second part of my so-clever-it-hurts title, look at this gorgeous teapots from englishteastore.com:

I can’t help but picture myself living in a small cottage somewhere, cluttered and cozy, with a bright green teapot on the vintage wood-burning stove.
Oh God. That was so cheesy it makes me sick. But, alas, I can not control my dreams.

More on tea in a later post.

And, finally, Alaska. I just watched Into the Wild last night, after reading and loving the book to pieces. Christopher McCandless’s story just tore my heart into pieces. I wondered at how it could be brought to the big screen, but director Sean Penn achieved it with delicate precision and obviously huge concern for the story and McCandless.

Chris on the California coast, where he met up with some hippie wanderers.

Everyone knows the story by now, an idealistic young college grad, searching for something more than society can give him, wanders the earth for two years, until finally heading to Alaska for his “great adventure.” It is there that nature betrays him, and he dies of combined starvation and poisoning from mold that developed on potato roots he ate when he could find no game. Some admire his idealistic search for self, while others view him as a naïve, ignorant fool who asked for his own death. Either way you chose to see Chris, this story can’t help but affect you.

The film opens with Chris arriving at the Stampede Trail in Alaska, which he followed until he came across a bus, which he referred to as the “magic bus” in which he would live for several months, and, eventually, die. The film then cuts back and forth between Chris’s time in the bus and his travels throughout the West. Reading the book and watching the movie, it amazed how many people Chris affected in his travels, how many lives he changed and hearts he touched, and, when news of his death became known, broke. The most heartbreaking of all these people is the elderly widower Ron Franz, played by Hal Holbrook. Something you don’t learn by watching the movie is that Ron Franz isn’t the man’s real name: he asked author Jon Krakauer to keep him anonymous, because McCandless’s death so tore him apart that he didn’t want people asking him about it. Even more devastating is this: Ron was a devout Christian when he met Chris, and had been sober for many years after becoming dependant on whiskey after his wife and son were killed by a drunk driver. But after he learn of McCandless’s death, Franz became an atheist, convinced that if there were a God, Chris never would have died. He also started drinking again.

The movie is anchored by a fantastic performance by Emile Hirsch. He captures the slightly out-of-control McCandless perfectly, in my opinion. He had to lose 40 pounds throughout the shoot, and a shot towards the end, as McCandless is slowly starving away, of a skeletal Hirsch is haunting and shocking. He makes the difficult death scene oddly beautiful. It seems that, in those last few moments, Chris truly found peace.

The film is visually stunning, and I’m angry it was so ignored by the Oscars. The way it is shot is breathtaking, not only the large landscapes of a frozen Alaska, but the smaller shots in between. Penn utilized a split-screen technique in several scenes and I absolutely loved it. SO… WHERE WAS IT’S CINEMATOGRAPHY NOMINATION??? How about Best Director for Penn? Or Best Adapted Screenplay? The screenplay is touching and heart-wrenching all at once. I do appreciate that it was nominated by Editing, however, considering it was tricky flashing back and forth between the time periods. The one that really irks me, however, is the last of Best Score nomination. The music is what makes many scenes—the gentle of a guitar as the undercurrent for Eddie Vedder’s raw, rumbling voice… it was absolutely robbed.

I loved this movie, obviously. Highly recommended, though it is a bit long, 2 and a half hours, so you need to leave your whole night free.

Finally, I came across an article about how the local Alaskans in the area surrounding the Stampede Trail are deeply resentful toward all the “McCandless pilgrims” who are using the bus as a tourist attraction, taking pictures there, and sitting against the bus in McCandless’s iconic pose of one leg over the other. This just seems sick to me. A man died there… it creeps me out that people use it as a tourism site, the same as Disneyland or the Grand Canyon. Maybe some people identify with Chris, and are looking to find some sense of self, but still… A replica of the bus was used in the film—both out of respect and convenience, and the locals want to move the bus to the beginning of the trail, so it is more easily accessible. They’ve had to airlift 2 couples out of the area so far, at the cost of the Alaskan government. These people, mostly young men, have carved their names into the side of the bus. This is so disrespectful to me. A bit of a morbid spot to be a tourist attraction, no?

I’ll finish with my favorite quote from Chris, scratched out in his journal as he lay dying, “Happiness only real when shared.” He realized that isolation wasn’t the answer, that we needed others.

So go share it.

a.

My first hate comment! I feel initiated into some club.

2008-03-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

I GUFFAW IN YOUR FACE!

I got THE most awesome hate comment the other day. It’s my first, and I must say, it’s quite fun getting them, and realizing how stupid and ignorant many people are. Here it is, in all its glory:

“I find this blog to be disgusting. By classifying people into social groups you display your lack of intelligence. Ranting and being correct are two completely different things. You sound as if you went to urbandictionary or wikipedia and read anything they had to say about the "scene' or "emo". I doubt you even know what emo means.Oh wait, of course you do. MTV does such a genuine job of educating its viewers.”

Where to start, where to start? First of all, the leaver of this comment was too much of a pansy to make their blog/ profile viewable, so I couldn’t even look at it and laugh. Second, this person’s user name is “devindynamite!” One word. As soon as I saw that in my Inbox, I KNEW it must be an emo kid… I mean, “devindynamite!” is just the kind of name I was making fun of!
Oo, this is so exciting. “I find this blog to be disgusting.” Well, I’d rather one person find me disgusting than every person find me boring. What next? I show my lack of intelligence by classifying people into social groups? Social groups are at the heart of human nature. Since the beginning of time, people have grouped THEMSELVES into social groups, and it’s a natural human instinct. As much as people go on and on about how, “You can’t classify me,” the truth is that 97% of people can be grouped into some sort of group. Cliches and stereotypes had to come from somewhere Yes, I am obviously very dumb and wear my lack of intelligence on my sleeve.
“Ranting and being correct are two completely different things.” Well, obviously I know this. I believe I even said that I was going to rant, and is someone HONESTLY going to tell me that I don’t have the right to rant and judge and be mean on my own blog? How dare you?
As for all that crap about reading all of what it said about scene and emo… how ridiculous. I have eyes, I am an extremely observant person. There are tons of emo kids at my school, even though I attend Catholic school and people have this odd idea that we are all either pious or slutty. I look at the world around me and make observations. I certainly don’t need to read someone else’s opinion on a subject to make some of my own.
And finally, “Oh wait, of course you do. MTV does such a genuine job of educating its viewers.” How dare this person judge me like that? I may have watched a total of 5 hours of MTV in my entire life. I find MTV disgusting, and am infuriated that someone would assume I watch it.
Judging a singular person is not good, but it is very different from making observations on an entire social group, which is what I did.

Wait, was that ranting, or being correct?

Peace,
a.

It's magic.

2008-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

I wrote this article for my school newspaper, on how Harry Potter has affected my life. It's a little sappy, but what can I say, I get sappy when it comes to Harry.

Harry Potter and the End of An Era

As everyone not living in the Amazon jungle or under a rather large rock knows, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released last July (July 21, to be exact, a date that had been inscribed in my mind for months beforehand). Across the globe, people lined up at bookstores, many of those people dressed as characters from the books, waiting for midnight to come. Amazingly, the biggest pop culture event of recent memory, perhaps even in history, was not a movie, or an album release, but the release of a book. And this wasn’t just any book—this book could more accurately be described as a tome, weighing in at 784 pages and one-seventh of a very complicated and complex series; not your average breezy summer read.

The book broke records left and right, becoming the fastest selling book in history, but none of this really mattered to the fans who had waited for years for Deathly Hallows. Perhaps the most incredible thing about the Harry Potter books was the effect they had on people, and how they changed so many lives in the process. Some may think the books are just that—books—paper and ink. But to the fans who grew up with these books, they are so much more.
I first picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 1999, when I was seven, at the recommendation of a neighbor: “Have you heard about these ‘Harry Potter’ books? They’re so good for kids to read.” After I finished the first chapter, that was it, there was no going back. My now-nearly-nine-year-obsession had officially begun.

A huge part of the success of the books, in my opinion, was the huge, detailed world created by J.K. Rowling. From special wizard candies to a spell or potion for just about every purpose imaginable, no detail was overlooked, and as a reader, I felt surrounded and absorbed by this world so much that I started to wish it was real, perhaps even believe, a tiny bit, that it was real. In the books, Harry received his acceptance letter to Hogwarts on his eleventh birthday, so, of course, on my eleventh birthday, I expected the same. The whole day I told myself that I was being stupid, that the books were fictional, and so was everything in it, including Hogwarts. Yet, I couldn’t extinguish that tiny flicker of hope burning in my heart, and I eagerly watched at the windows, hoping, desperately hoping, for an owl to come into sight, a letter addressed to me clutched in its beak. I didn’t restrict myself to waiting for owl post, however, because that would’ve been silly. I also combed the area near the mailbox several times, reasoning that perhaps Professor McGonagall would have wanted to keep things very hush-hush, thus sending the letter through muggle mail.

Obviously, as you are reading this in the [insert school name here] newspaper, that letter did not come. The tears did however. Yes—I, a poor, disappointed eleven-year-old, cried over a nonexistent letter from Hogwarts, all my hopes crushed.

Harry was always with me. Whether dressing up as Hermione for Halloween or habitually inhabiting the fan site Mugglenet, my obsession never subsided. I reread and reread the books, over and over, and with each new book release, I would become permanently affixed to the armchair in my living room, reading for hours on end, desperate to finish before any spoilers could be found out. The characters seemed so alive. We saw Harry grow from an innocent child to an angst-filled teenager to a mature young man, we saw Hermione grow from annoying know-it-all to still-annoying-yet-slightly-more-endearing-know-it-all, and we saw Ron grow from, well…Ron was always a bit of a sheepish, bumbling best friend, wasn’t he? But out of all the characters, I, along with many people I know, loved Ron best. I cried for Cedric Diggory (along with, I’m sure, every other female fan), I cried when Sirius died and literally sobbed for the death of Dumbledore (and loathed Snape with every fiber of my being for said death). With each release, I realized that there was one less book left, that we were that much closer to the end of it all.

In the months leading up to July, my feelings about the release of Deathly Hallows ranged from anticipation to despair, from excitement to sorrow for the quickly-approaching end, which must come for all wonderful things. Finally, July 21 came, and I ran to mailbox, an odd parallel to my actions on my eleventh birthday, hoping that Amazon had shipped the book on time. I opened the mailbox, and there it was, in its own special box. I ran inside and slowly opened the box, relishing each moment. This was equivalent to Christmas times ten for me. I pulled the book out and felt its weight in my hands. Now more excited than sorrowful, I plopped into the armchair that had seen so many hours of Harry Potter, and opened the cover, expected to find a summary of the book as usual. Instead I found the simple inscription, “We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter.” It was too simple, beautiful, sad, and poignant for me to handle. If before I had been excited, now I was utterly and completely depressed again. I started crying a bit (the vast majority of those reading this are most likely astounded at what a freak I am, but hopefully a select few fellow freaks can relate to me), and literally could not bring myself to turn the page. A few minutes went by, until I sucked it up and just started reading.

The book was incredible, and I was constantly in awe of J.K. Rowling’s story writing abilities, and how objects and storylines dipped, dived, and were woven within the fabric of each book, and how small, seemingly insignificant details made so much sense when explained in Book Seven. Loose ends were tied up—Ron and Hermione together, now who could’ve predicted that one?—many characters died (Dobby! Fred! Lupin! Tonks!) and, in the end, good triumphed over evil. Though, truthfully, we wouldn’t have accepted it any other way.
The story of Harry Potter is finished. There is no other way to say it. No more plots will be created, no new characters will be introduced, and, frankly, the fans will always have a small feeling of emptiness. While there will be no more anticipation, think of how lucky we are. Our children and grandchildren will read these books already knowing how they end, but we got to grow up with these books, and they are such a part of so many people’s childhoods. These stories will be classics, there is no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s of that, and they will survive as long as ink and paper do. Historians are having a lot of trouble naming the current generation—the Myspace Generation? Generation Next?

Perhaps the most accurate and telling name of all would be the Harry Potter Generation.

And in honor of my good old dose of die-hard Harry Potter-lovin', I give you my favorite groups out of the peculiar, over-the-top, and downright hilarious musical genre known as Wizard Rock. I must say, I kind of feel bad for these bands because they only get gigs when a bit Harry Potter event is occurring, and those will soon be nonexistent.

The originals: Harry and the Potters (Ironically, not one of the best)
The Remus Lupins
Ministry of Magic
The Whomping Willows
The Moaning Myrtles
The Parselmouths
Romilda Vane and the Chocolate Cauldrons
The Mudbloods [Check out "Freedom Is Only A Hippogriff Away)
Ginny and the Heartbreakers
The Cedric Diggorys

There's so many that it's slightly ridiculous. For a complete listing, check out http://wizrocklopedia.com/index.php/band-listings/

I'm going to Apparate.

expelliarmus!
a.

And you TOO can have hot sex against a bookcase!

2008-02-07T16:25:00.001-08:00

That's right, friends, the what-I'm-sure-will-be-iconic green dress from Atonement can be ALL your for just $3,200! As of now, I'm SURE the bid will go up. Oh, and you need to be able to fit into Keira Knightley's slightly ridiculous size 2. Good luck. WHERE, you might ask, can you get this dress? At none other than the charitable site, Clothes Off Our Backs. Here's the link, if, you know, you wanted to open it on the way to gathering your money together: http://www.clothesoffourback.org/categories.php?cPath=1_116

Oh, and here's a really interesting video of Keira discussing how important the costumes were to the story and movie as a whole.

http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=200360

Not related, BUT: Who's ever seen Godspell? We're watching it in religion class (yes, I actually receive religious instruction in my school) and it's one of the weirdest things I've ever seen on film but it's also kind of awesome.

I kind of feel like they're all on acid.... or just REALLY high on Jesus's love. But I love the clothing. There's this scene in a junkyard where they go around picking up old things and putting them on, creating a bohemian wonderland (wow, that was bad) of clothing. If I can get specific stills, I'll do a more specific post on it.

Oh, and it features a young Victor Garber as Jesus. With clown makeup. And a fro. Wow.

And for a bit of wow factor, check out this picture from Face Hunter in Stockholm.

<

Damn. I love Sweden.

fred. (Would you believe that means "peace" in Swedish?)
a.

Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.

2008-02-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing like a poor, confused animal being forced out of their hole only to be met with tons of flashes and news crews. Of course the animal's going to see it's shadow. Are you dull? Boy, am I proud to be a Pennsylvanian on Groundhog Day....

Since I just got Netflix, I've decided to do a post, a sort of review, on each new movie I see. Let me just say that Netflix has officially made me even more of a hermit than I previously was. On the weekends, I actually have an EXCUSE to stay in: "Oh, I've got a couple of movies I wanted to watch." It's brilliant.

So.

Garden State

Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard

I've heard so much about how incredible this movie was from the select few who could possibly be labeled as "indie" in my school. I always expect so much from movies, and am usually disappointed. I was kind of disappointed with this movie. There were really good parts, but there was just something missing, that spark that makes me sell my soul to the creators of the film.

Good: This is probably one of the most quotable films I've ever seen. Sometimes really simple lines can just be so absolutely pithy and perfect that they beg to be put in away messages. And I answered that call, friends. Because I have no less than 8 away messages with Garden State quotes alone. What's that? You want to know what they are? I was just thinking the same exact thing.

Sam (Natalie Portman): "You know what I do when I feel completely unoriginal? I make a noise or I do something that no one has ever done before. And then I can feel unique again even if it's only for like a second."

Sam: "What's the word that's burning in your heart?"

Tim: "By the way... it says BALLS on your face."

Sam: "This is your one opportunity to do something that no one has ever done before and that no one will copy throughout human existence. And if nothing else, you will be remembered as the one guy who ever did this. This one thing."

Sam: "I haven't even lied in like, the past two days."
Large (Zach Braff): "Is that true?"
Sam: "No."

Mark (Peter Sarsgaard): "I'm okay with being unimpressive. I sleep better."

Large: "Good luck exploring the infinite abyss."

Sam: "My hair is blowing in the wind."

They're even better in context.

I also liked the setting, and the little quirks that made the film so Jersey. The entire maternal side of my lineage comes from Jersey, and I have to say, I really can't stand that state. It's all highways and highways and highways and construction. But the film did a good job of showing what life is like there, I think. New Jerseyans have a lot of heart.

I couldn't help but like the character of Sam. A lot of people will find her incredibly annoying and unrealistic, but I just liked her. In less talented hands, Sam could have been given a thousand idiosyncracies to make her quirky, and it just would've been over the top. But Zach Braff gave Sam just enough--epileptic, a complusive liar, dead pet graveyard in the backyard--that she seemed real, like a girl you might actually meet. If Sam was a little less peppy, I might want to be her.

Also, the soundtrack. Who hasn't heard of this soundtrack? It really is gorgeous, with each song fitting each scene perfectly. From the odd haze of The Shins to the Indian-feel of "Lebanese Blonde" to the hushed sleepiness of Iron & Wine's cover of The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights," it is indie perfection.

But, there are always cons. One of things I didn't like was the story--it kind of confused me a little, and sometimes seemed to jump, leaving me with my head cocked staring at the screen with an extremely attractive "Whaaaaaa?" look on my face.

Oh, and the ENDING. I HATED THE ENDING. I won't give it away, because I'm just so kind, but my friend and I kept saying, "That was the end? Wait, THAT was the end? I was expecting... MORE." And it's true. I was definitely expecting more.

Garden State was a quirky, interesting film, but left me wanting that indescribable something. 3 1/2 stars.

In other movie news, check out the Prince Caspian trailer (Chronicles of Narnia, for those of you will more adult interests.)

Too bad there won't be any James McAvoy as a faun in this one. But I want to see it, because any movie with mystical lands, epic battles, New Zealand, and haunting choral music in the trailer is just fine with me. And William Moseley is really freaking hot.

Why are all French woman born with this chic gene? Marion Cotillard's dress is so simple and understated, but she looked more beautiful than all the woman in dresses that looked like someone had gotten their hands on a Bedazzler. I can't help but compare that dress to this painting, a favorite of mine:

The woman in the painting is French. This is so not fair.

I suggest Cheap Trick's classic, "I Want You To Want Me." How can you not love this song?

peace.
a.

"If you can't fix it, you've gotta stand it."

2008-01-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

“I find it, personally, disappointing that people kind go out of their way to voice their opinions against the way that two people choose to love each other. I think that’s really unfortunate.”

Heath Ledger's death is affecting me more than I thought it would, or more than it should, technically. I mean, I never met the man, I've seen only two of his movies. Yet I keep remembering and feeling incredibly sad. I don't want to use the same words as everyone else, "RIP, so tragic, so sad, gone too soon" because it seems more than that. It's not right, it's not fair, it's not natural and it doesn't seem real. For a touching tribute, read A Room Of One's Own's (http://aroom-of-ones-own.blogspot.com/) two wonderful posts on Heath. I really couldn't hope to do any better, but I found these two videos on youtube, and I really wanted to share them.

The first is Heath on Ellen in 2006, just after he was nominated for Brokeback Mountain. This is how I want to, and how I think we should, remember Heath: so vibrantly alive. He's obviously uncomfortable and nervous being interviewed, really fidgety, but look how he laughs and brightens when speaking of his daughter. It touches my heart. The "Oh my God!" when Ellen pulls out the outfit just makes me smile, and happy. Plus, we get to hear that beautiful Australian lilt that was so often buried under an array of accents.

And the second one is of Heath and Jake Gyllenhaal at the SAG Awards, presenting Brokeback Mountain. Obviously he's scared and giddy, and his laughing just makes me smile.

I think, to honor Heath, we should remember his work, and his life. Over the next few weeks, all sorts of "Breaking News" stories about his "heroin addiction" and "secret life." What good does this do? Let's have a little respect for the dead. He wasn't, and isn't, a tabloid story or cover. He should be remembered as a man, not as toxicology reports or a body being wheeled out from his apartment in a flash of paparazzi bulbs. As a human being who loved his daughter so fiercely, loved and craved privacy, and really had no interest in being in the public eye.

“I fall deeper and deeper in love with both my girls.”

I'm so sick of the entertainment shows saying in their pompous voices,"Did Heath Ledger have a drug problem? STAY TUNED!" Why does death cause this? Why is it any of our business? It's not. Why can't they just realize that a death is a death, even though Heath was an actor. Can you imagine if a regular person (as in, not famous) died and a newspaper or something started these horrible rumors? Yet because he "asked for it," it's okay. It's not. This will never be okay. His family has lost their 28 year old boy. Leave them alone. How dare they swarm them at the airport as they get off the plane to attend a memorial service for their son, their brother? How dare they?

Rest in peace just doesn't seem enough.

This is just horrible.

2008-01-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

How can he really be dead? He was so young... and gorgeous. I mean, dead? Whoa.

Rest in peace, Heath. It's so sad that your daughter will never know you.

FIERCE.

2008-01-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

This post is a recap of last week's Project Runway, and discussion of my favorite designers, and a mini-ode to perhaps the fiercest of the fierce, MR. CHRISTIAN.

Christian makes this shows 35 times more fun to watch. What with quotes like, "Team Star is like hot, like star, like celebrity," and finding a way to fit "faaaabulous" into every sentence, he is just so over-the-top and wonderfully gay that it makes my brain hurt. It's like my brain can not process how fabulous he is.

That said, he's not my favorite, design-wise, but I he's the sort of person you would kill (or perhaps strangle someone with a yard of silk organza) to have dinner with. He's brilliant, and the show will lose half the appeal (ok, maybe not quite half) if Christian is ever eliminated. Here's hoping Christian never (at least until the final episode) has to hear that chilling "Auf Wiedersehen."

On to last week's recap:

One: I was really sad to see Kit go. She was fierce. Yes, FIERCE. The gold sequin beret she wore in one episode has become permanently cemented in my brain. I liked her designs, too, as they were normally a bit quirky and funky.

For example, how many designers put their model down the runway with a mini mohawk?

But, I must say, her dress this week was disappointing.

When she first got the idea of "nesting", I pictured this really crazy, frothy mossy green gown with sticks incorporated into it, one shouldered, with a crafted nest on the shoulder. Odd, I know, but I have odd vision. Instead she gave us a creamsicle-hued, tiered, Laura-Ingalls creation with a bundle of ribbons in the background that was supposed the encompass the whole concept of nesting. It just didn't make sense. Sorry, Kit.

THIS DRESS WAS INCREDIBLE. It just blew Rami and Kit so far out of the water. This is what avant-garde (on a 500 dollar budget, at least,) looks like. I'm so glad Chris is back. He's funny.

Victorya and Jillian:

BAD.
ASS.
Nuff said.

Oh, and Rami bored me. Ohh, chiffon draping. Just like every other week.

But Sweet P's dress was adorable. She really shines at making cute little dresses that would be really successful commercially.

I waaaaant it.

As for my favorite designers, I'm going to have to go with Jillian and Victorya. Not only is Jillian's style similar to mine (a week after buying a pair of vintage rainbow suspenders in New York City, what do I see adorning Jillian's black tee and jeans ensemble but a pair of rainbow suspenders?), I like her designs. Especially when she was team leader for the outdated fads challenge.

I really love the wide-leg overalls.

And she was the only person to actually use candy for the Hershey's challenge, and her outfit came out looking cute and flapper-esque. She should've won, just because she used edibles, and it came out looking great.

And I like Victorya's designs, as well, though her attitude can be really irritating. I loved this dress:

=

Very ice princess.

I think Rami might go next. He's kind of boring me.

Who's your favorite? And if you don't watch, YOU SHOULD BE!

peace,
a.

And just when I think our nation's moving forward...

2008-01-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

On this extremely well-worded, sensible, inspiring video posted by Barack Obama on youtube...

Some sad, ignorant person actually posted this comment:

(I hate to even put this on here, it really upset me)

"Do you really want a Black President for the United States? Wake up people.Vote for Jackie Chan or Jet Li or something.Do not vote for a ____ man please. The White House needs to remain White. "

Why are people still like this? What is wrong with people that they still think they are better than someone because their skin is white??????? Neither race nor gender should come into play when choosing our next president, but instead who the best candidate for our nation is. I thought the 60's were a huge breakthrough in abolishing racism, but no, sadly, it's still alive and kicking is some poorly educated individuals.

I recently read an extremely interesting article about Senator Obama in Newsweek, and I read the ENTIRE thing, which is really saying something, because normally Newsweek articles are so long I stop a page in. He seemed so honest and trustworthy.

Obama '08, y'all!

My parents took me to a Clinton rally when I was 3. I haven't stopped loving politics ever since.

peace,
a.

The Bitch Of Living

2008-01-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

I'm recently become pretty obsessed (though that's a term that's used pretty broadly, isn't it?) with the musical Spring Awakening. Here's the story line: Teenagers is a small town are not being giving the information they need about sex and such by their parents, so they kind of go crazy and rebel and have sex. And 2 of the 3 main characters die. But in the end they are hopeful so it's ok. As insightful as that summary once, I suggest you read the one on wikipedia. As hard as it might be to believe, the one is a bit more thorough. This might sound like an average tale of teenage rebellion, but this tale takes places in 1800s Germany. And, with slighty "risque" subject material and song titles such as "The Bitch Of Living" and "Totally Fucked," this isn't your average musical.

Performing "Totally Fucked" on the Tony telecast. They covered their mouths on "fucked" to show the censorship. I don't know, it was pretty cool, it made me feel like going, "Yeaaaaah, stick it to the man!" Woooo. Why are italics so odd to write in??

Unfortunately, I did not see this musical on my trip to New York (I saw Phantom, an old but rightly-named classic). Because, let's face it, NO WAY was I seeing it with my parents. I mean, they show the very beginning of sex on stage. Not awkward at all.

Oh look! There they go! On a swing and everything.

Spring Awakening won the Tony for best musical, most likely blowing the competition out of the water. Mary Poppins? Are you serious? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious vs songs about teacher fantisies? Puh-lease. SEX SELLS. The cast is all really young, with the only people over the age of... proably about 25 are the two adults who play all the adult characters.

You might recognize them from this Gap ad. Spring Awakening + bright sweaters and scarfs= TOTALLY... AWESOME.

The cutie on the left is Jonathan Groff. Not only does he have a very nice voice, but I find it insanely awesome that his hometown is extremely close to mine. (Not that I'm going to tell you how close. I mean, I like to at least feign SOME sort of mystery). I honestly find this really, really cool, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's because this area isn't exactly culture-rich, and to have someone from around here make it that big is pretty inspiring. Plus, my band competes against his alma mater in marching band competitions. I just think, "Whoa. He's from like...... around here!" Ok. I'll stop.

THE BITCH OF LIVING. BADASS SONG.

I've been watching lots of videos on Youtube recorded by wimply wonderful people who responded to their call of duty, and realized that illegaly recording performances for us fans is more important than breaking the law! They deserve Purple Hearts, all of 'em!

Look, I even took a picture of the THEATER as we were walking down Broadway. It was just there, like a wonderful, wonderful beacon shining from the concrete.

I'll post the music video they made for The Bitch of Living. If you like it, you can look for more videos, or just ask me. I don't want to gunk up my clean and pristine blog with lots of videos.

Those costumes are so incredibly badass, it hurts just to look.

As for songs to download, I suggest:
"The Bitch of Living" [obviously]
"Mama Who Bore Me"
"Left Behind" [because Jonathan Groff's voice is sooo sweet]
and but of course, "Totally Fucked" [because it's really fun to sing along at the top of your lungs when no one else is home. Try it. it's very therapeutic.

Oh, wait, one more video. I think this one shows how down to earth the actors are, and how they really care about the fans. I favorited it. I don't know. I'm jsut weird like that. Basically, this girl saw the musical, and her friend really wanted to go, but couldn't. So after the show, the girl who COULD go (Are you with me? Are you with me?) went to the stagedoor, and the brillant John Gallagher (who has since left :[) recorded this adorable little message for the friend. Let the gunking commence.

MUSIC:

Ooh, may I suggest The Postmarks? This CD is a perfect rainy-day, read a book album. Sleepy and a bit sad, but with a soft sort of sparkle. Bueno....

anna.

Dear Emo/Scene Kids:

2008-01-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

This is a letter to all of you out there, and I know there are many. This is not going to be respectful, or kind, because I really don't like you. Ahh, yes, I know. Another person who, "Just doesn't understand you," right?

Though I must say, you make me laugh. You bash conformity, and say how everyone--except you, of course-- is just part of the capitalist machine of the United States. But what's really funny is that you have not a shred of originality in your scrawny little, I'm-a-vegetarian-so-I'm-better-than-you body. Your hair is black, probably. Side bangs perennially over one eye, am I correct? All you guys wear black nail polish and eye liner to set yourself apart, to show how "different" you are. All you girls: it might be very long and straight, with some odd sort of gunshot wound resemblance at the top of your head. Whoa, you are so cool. Your hair is the sex. I believe that is what you call it. The sex? We are not worthy. I bet I can describe 99% of your wardrobe in a few simple words: a lot of jeans. You guys wear girls' jeans as a big middle finger to "conventional fashion." Yes, you really are protesting our grossly commercial society, buying those jeans at American Eagle. I applaud you. Hoodies. Now, we all have hoodies, but you're emo, so yours is probably from Hot Topic. Band tees. Again, many people have band tees. Just not all have 3 Hawthorne Heights, 2 Hellogoodbye, and 3 someothershittyband.

Ah, yes, music. The root of all that is emo. You worship screamo frontman with whiny voices. I bet you would love to meet Craig Owens, wouldn't you? His lyrics are, like, so deep. Did Craig Owens look deep into your soul and transfer into song? Incredible. Wow. Wow. All of you like the same bands. Everyone's going to think I'm a fierce hypocrite, and perhaps I am...but you think that you listen to the best music on earth. Period. You condemn the music taste of those who would rather listen to a gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar and a quirky voice than the gutteral screeches of Mr. Screamoman. Music is your life, isn't it? That's what it says in your "About Me", at least. You also list every single band you might've liked one song from in your music section, just to show how "awesome" your music taste is. Some really emo kids even list bands they HAVEN'T listened to, but their friends tell them are "like, sweet." Those bands "pwn", dare I say. YOU. LOVE. MUSIC. Nothing like ear-pounding guitars and riotous drums to really bring out the real meaning of music: expression of emotion. The Beatles bore you, and who's Bob Dylan? Oh, right. That old guy your parents listen to. Whatever, he's so totally lame. You refuse to listen to music outside of your scene. I bet that if I played you some classical, perhaps a little Gershwin or Bach, you would roll your eyes and say that "that classical shit" is so boring. God forbid you should appreciate the incredible, incredible beauty of pure instrumentation.

You have more myspace friends then real friends. Your screen name is probably something like XxibleedforyouxX, or perhaps XxbrokenxheartsxparadeXX. Myspace name? Hello Amy Apocalypse, have you met Tiffany [TERROR]? I'm sure you'll get along just swimmingly.

All the girls want to "bang" Taking Back Sunday's Adam Lazzarra, while all you guys came alive the day you first heard Hayley Williams (of Paramore)'s voice. Don't get me wrong, I like Paramore, though I know they are kind of unoriginal. I sort of file them under "Guilty Pleasures". And Hayley Williams' voice IS pretty fierce. But I digress.

You bash Bush without a thought. Now, I also really DO NOT LIKE HIM. AT ALL. I count down the days until he is out of office. But name one specific thing that he did to screw up. Oh, you can't? Exactly. You know nothing about the politics you bash. You just bash Bush because it's the cool thing to do, right? You're so rebellious. Shall I bow?

I leave you with a quote from yourscenesucks:
"wouldn't it be more of an act of rebellion if you didn't spend so much time buying blue hair dye and going out to get punky clothes? it seems so petty. stop me if I'm being offensive. you wanna be an individual, right? you look like you're wearing a uniform. you look like a punk. that's not rebellion. that's fashion."

Look at yourself. YOU ARE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

I'll leave you to your poetry filled with mundane words and thoughts.
Stay golden!
anna

Now, dear readers:
I am not normally a spiteful person. I can respect people's differences, different music tastes, whatever. But I just can not stand emo kids. I was so sick of their condescending looks and attitudes toward those who do not fit their perfectly shaped mold. I just really, really, hate emo and scene kids. They make me want to scream and stomp and flush their hair dye down the drain. Am I the only one?

On an entirely different topic. I want to see Juno with a desire bordering on desperation. The soundtrack is totally kick-ass, and the movie looks refreshing. Considering I live in farm country, we are not getting the movie in our local theaters until this Friday.

Here, read some ee cummings

love is a place
& through this place
of love move
(with brightness of peace)all places

yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
(skilfully curled)
all worlds

oooga booga boo!
a

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-12-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-11-30T14:20:00.001-08:00

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!

2007-11-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-08-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Dear people/ person who reads this:

2007-06-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

2 week hiatus. Vacation. See ya!

Listen: "Alfie" by Lily Allen

anna

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL DANO!!!!!

2007-06-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

I watched Little Miss Sunshine today only to later find out that TODAY IS PAUL DANO'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Can you BELIEVE that??? Weird, right?

He's 23!!!! I seriously thought he was 18 or 19... I mean, he was a 21 year-old playing a 15 year old......... why do they always do that?

But anyway: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!

Listen: "LDN"- Lily Allen

Andy Warhol, woot woot!

2007-06-19T14:17:00.001-07:00

Guess what?
Well, I'm going to Pittsburgh in a week or so to visit some friends, and I get to go to the Andy Warhol Museum!!!!!!!!!!!

I know how jealous you are.... know that it's okay to cry.
Har har har. But seriously, I am very, very excited, and will probably have a plethora of pictures to post some time next week. The gift shop is going to be so ridiculously AWESOME. I will probably go bankrupt buying pointless postcards with Campbells cans and Marilyn Monroe on them....

Randomocity: I've always desperately longed to live in New York City, or maybe Boston. I want to be able to walk to my friend's house, walk or take a bus to music shops, vintage stores, coffee shops. To go into a city Borders, which I really love. I don't know why, I just love when book stores are in the city. But anyway- today I was on back porch, and I was eating ice cream cake, and it was sunny and a bit breezy, and I was just grateful that I live in a rural area. Same with when I'm standing in a summer thunderstorm or hanging out in the cornfield behind my house (Ok, I just realized how incredibly Lovely Bones that was.... creepy. NO MORE cornfield-hanging-out for me.), or when I bike 15 minutes to my best guy friend's house and we bike around the really small village near us and go to the pharmacy to buy candy and gum. I don't know... it's just fun somethings.

But then I get REALLY bored and go back to my longing for the city. Hmph.

Yesterday, I made a list of 28 THINGS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

28 is just a tip off the iceberg. I do not understand many, many things.
But first of all, why do I make so many lists? It's insane. I wish I could be more spontaneous. Note to self: BE MORE SPONTANEOUS. I should add that to my "To Do" list.... Ha. Just kidding!

28 Things I Do Not Understand

1) Why do people want their lips plumped? What's wrong with having thin lips? How are inflated balloon lips attractive?

2) How people find Matthew McConaughey attractive. Yeah, OK, he has a rock-hard six pack. Big woop. His face is so ugly, and his hair is so thin and stringy.... EW!

3) Why do older women HAVE to dye their hair when it starts turning gray? What's SO bad about aging? Everybody KNOWS it's being dyed, so why not just let it go undyed? I guess it's our youth-obsessed culture.

4) Why are some people SO stupid? They just have no common sense. Isn't there SOME shred of intelligence SOMEWHERE in that head???

5) If croutons are stale bread, WHY do they come is a stay-fresh pouch??? This has always bothered me.

6) Why is football called football? American football, I mean. You only use your foot while punting, which is a really small part of the game (I think, I only watch football when I have to sit in the stands for marching band, and then I just play with all my friend's instruments and make random tooting noises with them, pissing off my drum major....). So then when soccer came over to the good ol' US of A, it was stuck with "soccer" because football was already taken by a sport which really does NOT use foot. Except for running, but that doesn't count.

7) Screamo. I hate screamo. How is this considered music??? It's screechy and it hurts my ears. Screamo sucks. The whole "banshee sound" just does not do it for me. WOW, you can make a bunch of guttural noises to cover up the fact that you can't sing, you are SO COOL.

8) How do people actually deny global warming? The facts are ALL RIGHT there!!!! But this is a different post. Except a major ranting on this in the future.

9) Why are curse words SO censored? Lily Allen made a really good point: Why are curse words censored, yet things like the Pussycat Dolls aren't. LA's video "Smile" was allowed to air on some show because it had "fuck" in it. Yet the PCD videos are shown....... wtf? Is hearing "ass" or "shit" on TV honestly more offensive to a parent then watching women desecrate themselves by dressing like sluts and writhing on the ground? I really just don't understand...

10) Rude shirts. Like "If my music's too loud, you're too old." Why is that necessary? If everyone was just a little nicer to one another, the world would be a better place.

11) Why is Paris Hilton famous? What has she ever done to deserve that fame??? There are MUCH more talented people who deserve that recognition.

12) Why does the government spend so much money on the space program? Does it REALLY matter if there was once life on Mars? Honestly. Billions of dollars are spent every year. Couldn't that money go to cancer research, or something?

13) Why is Seventeen so brainless 90% of the time? Note: if you treat girls like mindless bimbos, THEY WILL ACT like mindless bimbos.

14) Abercrombie & Fitch. Remind me again what the appeal of looking like a robot is?

15) Leather pants. Just.... ew. Ewewew. Bleh. Vomit. ICK.

16) The argument against same-sex marriage. While I haven't thought too much about where I stand on it, the government really has no right to ban it, based on the basic principles of America. First of all, "All men are created equal." If you think about it, gays are really the only group in America who aren't allowed to do something because of who they are. Racism is condemned (as it should be), so why is discrimination against gays still legal, in this case not allowing them to marry? It's not right. How is discriminating against a person for the color of their skin any worse than discriminating against someone because of who they love? Gays do not choose to be gay any more than I chose the color of my skin.
Also, the separation of church and state. People don't agree with same-sex marriage mostly because of religious reasons, and that's fine, people are allowed to believe whatever they like. But according to the idea of separation of church and state, the government CAN'T make a religious based law, and banning same-sex marriage would be a religion-based law. Also some religious support gay marriage. So technically, not allowing gay marriage is discriminatory against these religions. No religious discrimination is one the, if not THE, founding principles or America.
So, it just doesn't seem to me like the government can ban gay marriage and still be in line with the Constitution.

17) Those machines that make shaved ice. Why is a specific machine needed for this? Can't people just grind some ice in the blender? That's what I do....

18) I'm completely serious and not trying to make a joke: Why is it that you drive on the parkway but you park on the driveway??? WHAT IDIOT NAMED THOSE TWO THINGS???

19) Why are these directions necessary on packets of airplane peanuts: Open package. Eat nuts. For me to continue having any faith in the human race, I must keep believing that there are not people this stupid...

20) Fake fingernails. They're ugly and get in the way. 'Nuff said.

21) Space. It just... never ends??? How IS that?? It's so mind-boggling.

22) Hummers. Why protect the environment when you can release chemicals into it while drving around in a REALLY ugly car, right? Those things get like 3 miles to the gallon!

23) Why my brother thinks he is entitled to the computer, and I have to ASK him when I want it. It's so frustrating. You wouldn't understand.

24) Why do some cool guys go for obnoxious, snobby, ditsy cheerleaders who have never heard of Bob Dylan and go around saying things like, "Did you see Laguna last night??? OMG!!!!!" And why are there no guys in my school who like tall, unique, slightly awkward girls who are kind of deep, like good music, crack jokes way too often in class, and have an IQ above 50??? Hmm?? HMMMMM?????

25) Why are ripped jeans so popular? They have HOLES in them, for chrissake.

26) Peanut butter and banana. Maybe it's one of those don't-shoot-it-'til-you've-tried-it things, but I just don't know how these relate. At all.

27) Pregnancy aerobics. All that bouncing and jostling CAN NOT be good for the baby. Hm. Maybe that explains the behavior of some people I know--their mothers did one-too-many kicks or jumps while they were in 'da bellay......

28) WHO is Kathy Santoni on Full House? Honestly, they name-drop her on almost every episode, and I think they showed her like once, on DJ's first day of Junior High. (Wow, how lame am I for knowing that? Answer: VERY.) She's like this mystical person they mention when they need a name. Kathy sounds like quite the chick, however--DJ goes to her parties like every week, Kathy apparently gets all the guys DJ likes (even eating lunch with her boyfriend- GASP!) and apparently has very big boobs. Huh. She's like the mysterious character everyone talks about but no one ever sees....

I don't understand so much. So much.

oh yes: Order of the Phoenix trailer!!!!!! Seriously, WATCH IT.

Ron, I love you. Really, I do. Your hair looks so much better in this movie than in Goblet of Fire. Snaps for Ron.

I'm so galskdfja;lkejjlfk excited!!! Geek? YES, thank you very much!!

Listen: "Once And Never Again"- The Long Blondes

anna

If love be rough with you, be rough with love.

2007-06-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

I adore Romeo and Juliet. I really do. We read it in English class this year, and it was truly the highlight of that class. (My teacher looked like a bird and tried very hard to be "hip".) But the other night, I watched the Leo DiCaprio version with some of my friends. What an odd, odd movie.... But I was reciting lines right before the characters did. My friends were getting pretty pissed.

Me: "Peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."
Tybalt (on TV): "Peace? I hate the word....."
Friend 1: "If you don't shut up, I'm going to gag you with this tube sock."
Friend 2: "And I will help."

Whatever. They just don't appreciate my reciting abilities. Psh.

Enjoy yourselves NOW, because you will be dead in like 4 days. Just warning you.

Oh yes, I worked at my church carnival the other day too. I have to get a certain amount of service hours every year, or else I get held back. Literally. My school is pretty hardcore when it comes to service. But anyway, I face painted with my friend Erin, who is an art genius. No lie, she is so incredible, the Art IV students are jealous of her. So it was rough face painting with her. This exchange actually occurred.

Me: "Oh, hello [little 5 year old girl], what do you want on your face?"
Girl: "I want a unicorn."
Me (thinking): Dammit. Those are so fricken hard.

At this same time, Erin was also painted a unicorn on another little girl's face. She finished. The girl stood up. I finished. The girl I had been painting stood up.

Girl: "Heyyyyyyy!!!! Her unicorn is way better!!!! I want her to paint a unicorn!! Your unicorn stinks!!!"
She then proceeded to WIPE THE UNICORN OF HER FACE and walk over to Erin, who looked slightly stunned and just started painting her unicorn. And I thought my unicorn was pretty damn good! Not as good as Erin's, OBVIOUSLY, but nothing ever is.
I hope that little girl dropped her cotton candy on the ground later. Muahahaha!!

Oh YEAH, it LOOKS innocent NOW, but just wait until you try to do something nice for someone and paint it on their little cherub "angel" cheek. It will bite you in the ass.

It's frustrating having such talented friends.

I did manage to paint a stellar peace sign on my cheek, however. It was so ridiculously hippie-like, what with my hippie dress, ratty blonde hair, and headwrap. EAT THAT, PREPSTER SCUM!!!!!!!!

Seriously, Urban Outfitters has THE coolest head things. I highly suggest you check them out.

Wow, ok. Hopefully you did not read that thinking, "This girl is a total head case." So on to the original intent of this post: (Drumroll, please!) THE WORST BAND NAMES EVER.

Now, I do not condemn the band's music based on their name. Many bands with bad names have good music. Many bands with good names have bad music (here's looking at you, Hellogoodbye....). It's just the way it is. Perhaps one day I will focus on bands with good names. But not today, today I feel like being negative and persnickity (is that spelled right? Meh, who cares.)

First up, quite possibly the worst band name EVER:

1) The The
Did the creator have Tourette's, or something? Or were the members just really plastered one night and liked how the repetitive words sounded? Honestly, this name is just so bad, it hurts my brain.

2) The Salads
The Salads? They HONESTLY couldn't think of anything better???? How is salad rock n' roll? HOW????? Answer: It is not.

3) The Toasters
This is kind of similar to the Salads. A toaster is like the most uncool thing EVER. This name is so lame, the creator does not deserve to live.

4) !!!
When I first saw this name, I thought, "WOW. They are trying WAYYYYY to hard to be clever." I had no idea how to pronounce, until someone told me you click your tongue three times, which seriously is the most retarded thing ever. That's not a BAND name, that's the sound I make when I am trying to emulate a clock.

5) A Cool Name For a Band
OMG YOU ARE SO FUNNY AND CLEVER AND CREATIVE!!!!! NOT.

6) Jefferson Airplane
DON'T HIT ME, Jefferson Airplane fans. I'm sure their music is good, but their name sucks. Maybe there's a story behind it, but band names shouldn't have to be explained. They should just beeeeeee.

7) Cobra Starship
Maybe any band name with an aircraft-related word in it bugs me.....

8) The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Oh, wow. They make good music, but.... how....do these three words..... relate.....? Red and jumpsuit, ok. But apparatus??? Out of which band member's ass what THAT one pulled???? Apparatus is seriously the strangest word....

9) Cute Is What We Aim For
Some people think it's clever, but I just think it's trying wayyyy to hard to be clever. Your band's name is LAME, Shaant! And so is yours......

So there's my list. Any additions?

oh, righty-o, I'VE BEEN TAGGED BY MY VOGUE.

RULES: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

So here's my list of Random Facts about myself

1) I was the Geography Bee champion for my diocese in 8th grade, and I came in 2nd in 6th grade. Go on, ask me where the Atlas Mountains are. I DARE YOU.

2) I am a ridiculous, crazy Harry Potter fan, and have been since I was 7. I am both anticipating and dreading the final book...... If Harry dies, I swear to God, I am going to hunt down J.K. Rowling. I actually CRIED on my 11th birthday when I didn't get my Hogwarts acceptance letter. I KNEW it wasn't going to come, but I had that smallest shred of hope... Don't laugh at me!

3) My second favorite city that I've been to (besides New York, well New York and San Francisco tie) is Victoria, BC. I went there two summers ago and just fell in love with the city. It wasn't too big, and there's all this water nearby (I took a ferry from Washington to get there, IT WAS SO COOL), and it just has this odd charm about it. I really want to go there again. Plus, Hot Hot Heat is from Victoria, which is just an added bonus.

4) I am afraid of death, rape, low-flying planes, clowns (the "Fluorescent Adolescent" video is soooo creepy!), open heights (like a cliff or the open-air observation deck of a building, not a plane) mice, and all other rodents. Spiders and other bugs don't bother me one bit, but mice freak me out to no extent. All my friends are always like, "Anna! Spider! Get it!" So I just pick it up and go put it outside. No big deal.

Oh, right, my name's Anna. Hello, nice to meet you. Typing "A" is getting annoying, because it's a whole separate word, not just an inital. But whatever, I'll probably end up doing it anyway, because that's just how I am.

5) My heroes are: My mom, my grandparents (they've been married 51 years), Jim Halpert (who happens to be my soul mate....) and Greta Salpeter, the pianist from The Hush Sound, for being in a kick-ass band, having a kick-ass voice, and playing the piano kick-ass-edly.

6) I have absolutely NO idea what I want to do when I grow up, or what I want to study in college. I mean, I love philosophy, writing, literature, foreign languages, feminism, anthropology, sociology, and music. But I have no idea how to turn this into a career, or even how to find a major that encompasses all of that. I detest the guidance counselor for making me look through college books and informing me that I will most likely not go to a school outside of Pennsylvania. Screw her. I am number one in my class, and I WILL get a scholarship and I WILL leave Pennsylvania and go to a liberal arts college around Boston. So there. Screw her.

7) To Kill A Mockingbird changed my life.

Um, er, I guess I tag the only people that have ever commented on this blog... so, Ashcan Rantings, Discotheque Confusion, If You Can't Think Of Anything Nice to Say..., Calleth, and urm... well, that's really it..... CONSIDER YOURSELVES TAGGED.

yayyyyyyyyy.

Wow, that was like the longest post I've ever posted. My GOD, it took me a long time. You better have read it! Or I will growl at you. I'm kidding. I'm not that creepy.

Listen to: "Falling"- Ben Kweller

Anna

Sexy.... Part Dos

2007-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is the second part of my MMSSIFTBWISAPOTL (did I get all that?). This is kind of a sub-category, however: CHARACTERS I FELL IN LOVE WITH IN MOVIES. In this instance, I may not find the actual person very attractive, but I find the character they played damn sexy. Follow?

1) Duckie (Jon Cryer) in Pretty In Pink

I always HATED this movie. I hated Blane, or Blaine, or whatever preppy name it was. He was so girly, and pale... and wimpy!!! Steff always really annoyed me... he does NOT look like a high school student. Andie's dress is THE ugliest thing I have EVER seen. Truly. Even for the 80s, it was just BAD! Even Andie herself annoyed me.... the way she treated Duckie.... So what's the only reason I continually watch this movie over and over again? DUCKIE, of course! He's the guy ever girl wants for a best friend, but nobody would ever see as a love interest, without realizing that he actually has feelings. Plus, it's just great acting on Jon Cryer's part: Classic, classic.

Best part of the movie, hands down, equals Duckie lip-syncing in the record shop:

It makes my heart smile.

But then....

Ok, if my best guy friend said, "God, I've would've DIED for you!" I think I might dump the prep at the door. Seriously. Blane is so icky.

But I love Duckie, always.

2) Dwayne Hoover (Paul Dano) in Little Miss Sunshine

From the second Dwayne showed up on the screen, I thought to myself, "Oh shit, I'm going to have a major crush on him by the end of the movie." And you know what, I did. The quiet, angry, misunderstood guy......... He's not really that good-looking, but Paul Dano's acting is truly, truly brilliant. Without saying a word, he portrays all of these emotions. It's incredible. I think he should've a least been NOMINATED for Best Supporting Actor. But whatever.

Dwayne's whole being is just very sexy, in a really, really, REALLY weird way!

SPOILER ALERT! (if you haven't seen the movie, don't watch this. Don't say I didn't warn you!!)

PLUS, the movie had Steve Carell, from the BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!

3) Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Titanic

DON'T YELL AT ME. I know how cliche and ultra-teenage girl-y it is to have Jack Dawson on the list, but seriously! What breathing human with two X chromosomes did NOT fall in love with him, at least a LITTLE? That whole artistic, passionate ruffian thing? It's so sexy! Leo really peaked in this movie. Now he looks too grown-up, his face is too filled out and rounded instead of young and slightly hollowed.... or maybe he's just had one too many packs of Ho-Ho's.......

But anyway: Jack Dawson. For MONTHS after I first saw this movie, I went around with this daze of "I want MY own Jack Dawson!" (Give me a break, I was seven.) Jack's weird slight-accent, how he's so unselfish with Rose, and the way he's nice to everybody, it swelled my little seven-year-old heart up, and it still does to this day.

4) Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) in Roman Holiday

That voice.... it's so deep and manly! And... urm.... yeah, I think his voice was really the clincher.....

5) Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) in Say Anything

That's right, Lloyd! You hold that boombox (God, remember boomboxes) above your head in an act of defiant love! You blast "In Your Eyes"!!! Go, Lloyd!!!

So this list is definitely not in order, because I think Lloyd Dobler is the movie character I fell most in love with. Just the little things that make a difference (if you have not seen the movie, you are going to be very, very lost):

his Clash t-shirt
his eagerness and never-giving-up-edness to get Diane to go out with him
the scene where he leads Diane around the glass- from that moment on, there was no resisiting Lloyd Dobler's charms
"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen."
Diane: "Are you cold?" "No, I think I'm happy." Or something along those lines, cut me some slack, I haven't watched this is a few months!
How he was the key holder at the party. ("YOU MUST CHILL!")
the trenchcoat. Gotta love it.
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
When he's talking to the old people at the home
When poor Lloyd breaks his nose!
Diane: "Nobody thinks it will work, do they?" Lloyd: "No. You just described every great success story."

OK, this movie is much too quotable. I must stop. Just watch it! The ending is the best movie ending ever. This is not a suggestion. This is a fact.

Diane NEVER seemed worthy of Lloyd. Never ever ever.

So that concludes this sexy installment. Except, wait! I meant to put JAMES FRANCO on my other sexy list, but I somehow forgot. So just know that HE IS ON THE LIST!!!!!!!!

Listen: "Just Like Heaven"- The Cure

A

He's a looker!

2007-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone who has ever spent more than 10 minutes with me, and they will tell you that I use this phrase far too often. I'm sure it gets annoying. But it's mainly a polite way of saying, "Damn. He's sexy."

Alright, Molly and Emma inspired me. Copying? Um, NO. "Inspiration" is more accurate. I couldn’t resist making MY VERY OWN SEXY
LIST, or, as I like to call it, my
Men-So-Sexy-I-Forget-To-Breathe-When-I-See-A-Picture-Of-Them-List (aka
MMSSIFTOBWISAPOTL).
Literally, I forget to breathe . I wish I could be all cool and
nonchalant, like “Oh yeah, hot guy, no biggie,” but I JUST CAN’T. I forget to
breathe, and about 5 seconds later, my brains switches back on, and I gulp like
a fish cruelly tossed onto the dock. Oh, I am so smooth.
#1 is definitely my number one, number 2 is number 2, but the rest
aren’t really in any particular order.

1) Alex Turner: The Just-Plain Sexy
Sexysexysexysexy. There’s a reason all the deep girls fall for
musicians. He’s just so ridiculously talented, a true lyrical genius. And his
hair…and his accent…and the way he holds his guitar…and the way his lips touch
the microphone when he sings…and the way he looks when he’s playing a mad crazy
riff…oh, shit. I am venturing a little too far into Crazy Fangirl Land. Like
those girls who make their Myspace names, “Mrs. [insert name here].” Ick. That always creeped me out. But seriously. Alex Turner........ siiiiigh.

Oh, to gain possession of that hoodie...

Oh yes, and may I just say that the other guitarist, Jamie Cook, is quite a looker, too. Ew, the new bassist? Ick!!! Icky Nicky O'Malley. He resembles a caveman, with those creepy hooded eyes. Ewwww. I'm not going to soil my post of sexiness by putting a picture of him... so find one yourself... IF YOU DARE.

2) John Krasinski/ Jim Halpert: The Adorable, Sweet Sexy
Again, ask any of my friends and they will tell you that I can't go through a day without mentioning how Jim Halpert is my soul mate. I am so in love with a fictional character, it's ridiculous. He's sweet, funny, and hot. JUST LIKE ME!!!! Well.... one out of three....
But anyways. Yes. I love Jim Halpert. But I also love John Krasinski, because he is JUST LIKE JIM! Thank God. I've seen him on talk shows, and he EVEN MAKES THE JIM FACE!!! IT'S SO AWESOME!!!! But that slow smile... why, it could melt metal, I swear it could. He's kind of a cute sexy, as opposed to Alex Turner, who is just.... sexy sexy. Does that make sense?
Every time Jim plays a practical joke on Dwight, my heart swells a bit more. So this is love... la la la la....

Oh yeah, was anyone else REALLY excited by the ending of the season finale????

3) Jude Law: The Traditional Sexy
I really hate admitting how attractive I find Jude Law, because he kind of seems like a jerk. Cheating on poor Sienna with the nanny and whatnot... dispicable. Shame on you, Jude. But you are one of the most attractive men alive, so I'll let it slide a bit. (Well, not really. I have NO sympathy AT ALL for cheaters.... it's a personal thing...) But right. He's hot. You have to admit it. Anyone see The Holiday? The movie sucked, by Jude Law was SO INCREDIBLE HOT in it. I watched the movie with my mom, and I got so embarressed by how hot he was that my face was getting BRIGHT RED. Heh. But seriously, he was the best part of the movie. Never has a man made glasses look so sexy, or fatherhood. Oops, urm... spoiler alert!

You have to admit... that is ONE ATTRACTIVE MAN!

4) Adam Brody: The Geeky Sexy

Ok, admittedly cliche. But I just find geeks so goddamm attractive, and Adam Brody really exemplifies the "cool geek." ELLEgirl (wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!) said it far better than I ever could: "...providing a beacon of light to girls who prefer skinny to studly, witty to brawny, and awkward to dashing. Face it--the pickings have alwaays been slim in the pool of COBs (Cool Objectifiable Boys) for girls whose SAT scores rank in the 95th percentile... Adam Brody: just right. Smart, wears cute clothes, has good taste in music and possesses just the right amount of neurosis."
EXACTLY. Dammit, do you see why I love ELLEgirl so much??? It was like they could read my mind. But I already posted a rambling about that.
So it's kind of like this: While I find people like Jude Law attractive, I could NEVER picture dating them... (though that's not really the point of a sexy list, is it?). But seriously, Adam Brody is like the male form of me. Kind of. You know what I mean. He's the type of guy my school is sadly lacking.

5) Rupert Grint: The REDHEADED sexy

Alright, I admittedly don't find Rupert Grint sexy. He's just so damn cute, is all. But I still figured he belonged on this list. His character is truly the only one that gives me laughs as I watch Harry Potter. (Seriously, who DOESN'T find the way he says, "Bloody hell..." really, really cute?) How to explain this? Ok, if Alex Turner makes my pulse quicken, Rupert Grint just makes me go, "Awwwwwwww!" He's just so sheepish and shy. Have you ever read any interviews with the Harry Potter trio? Rupert is so shy, he barely answers. It really and truly maakes me go, "Awwwww!"

For the love of PIE, ignore Dan "Maybe my name is really Danielle" Radcliffe, and Emma "I'm sexy, dammit! I AM SEXY!!" Watson (serious, Emma's pose is atrocious), and just shift your eyes to the redhead on the right who could be a guy who helps you if you drop something on the street. See what I mean?

So that's it for Part One. Part Two is coming tomorrow. Or maybe Sunday. But look for it in the next few days. Cool?

Listen to: "1234" by Feist

A.

Do it.

2007-06-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

So this is my "lazy post". I think every blogger should be allowed a few of those, don't you? It's basically a music quiz I made up a while back and posted on myspace.

Hey.... YOU SHOULD TAKE IT. What a novel idea! And then make one. It's really fun. Even if you don't know the answers, just guess. That's my philosophy for everything, come to think of it; if you don't know, just guess.

1) Who was David Bowie's alter ego?

2) Name the four Beatles and what instrument they played.

3) Who is the guitarist in U2?

4) Who was the lead singer of Queen? And what was his sexual orientation?

5) Sting was part of what band?

6) Name three Beatles records.

7) What was Blondie's hit rap song, the first of its kind?

8) What is British singer Lily Allen's hit single?

9) Name the three Coldplay albums. Go.

10) What city do/did the Decemberists and Elliott Smith (RIP) hail from?

11) What member of the Rolling Stones did Johnny Depp model Jack Sparrow after?

12) Who is the lead singer and wordsmith of Arctic Monkeys?

13) Corinne Bailey Rae is part of what musical movement? [Hint: Neo-_____]

14) Where are the Arcade Fire from, and what is the name of their new CD?

15) What state is the Starting Line from? [hint: I'm asking this for a reason]

16) What Mat Kearney song was featured in the trailer for Catch and Release?

17) Finish this phrase: "For those about to rock, ___________." Bonus: What band is this from?

18) How is Hendrix's first name spelled?

19) What is KT Tunstall's real name?

20) What bands sings the songs "Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova"?

21) Who is the lead singer of Radiohead?

22) What country is Phoenix from? How about ABBA?

23) Two bands were formally Christian rock, but are now more pop-rock. Hint: They start with an S and a R.

24) What disease did the subject of question number 4 die from?

25) What state is Jack Johnson from? [Hint: Think about his lyrics and sound. That should help.]

Listen: "When the Sun Goes Down"- Arctic Monkeys

Better yet, WATCH!

Alex Turner makes my heart all pitter-patter.

a

Spektor-acular!

2007-06-12T06:10:00.001-07:00

Oh, God. I am so clever, combining words like that. Because I in fact came up with Brangelina, don't you know. Those bitches must've overheard me talking about it somewhere and stolen it. Oh course that's what happened! Skeptical, you are? (Yoda alert!) Well.... psh....

Anywho.

How much do I love Regina Spektor? This woman is so inspiring, her music is so original and fresh, and different.

Well, I just realized this post isn't going to be so incredibly inspiring. But please, read on.

The piano music she writes... it just blows me away. And her, as a person. She looks so delicate and sweet, but then this huge, striking voice comes out when she opens her mouth. I don't really know.... how to describe her music. So just... watch these youtube videos! I swear, you won't be sorry.

A cover of "Real Love" written by John Lennon. I hate to admit this... but what the heck. I actually cry when I listen to this song. It's just so unlike all the other shit in the music world, it's otherworldly. And so full of emotion. And she even makes messing up look cute: "I fucked it up yesterday too!" and "Sorry, Mr. Lennon!" The song is actually on Instant Karma, the Lennon tribute album that comes out... today, actually! Sweet, now it'll be on limewire... Right. Blog. Focus. Ok.

Next up: "Fidelity" live. This is so incredible amazing, I love it even more than the original.

How many artists can honestly say that sound just like the album when they're live? Not many, my friends. Case in point: Panic! At the Disco. Ewwwwwwwww. I CRINGE at the thought, of the horror I experienced watching some show where they performed. I couldn't sleep for weeks!

But back to Regina. Even after all these years in the US, she just can't shake that kooky Russian accent, and I must say, I love it. It's quirky, as is she. And in interviews, she's so shy, but put her on a stage, and she's cussing like a sailor! It's brilliant (ooooh, Brit-speak). One more video, I swear, just one:

She's at a concert and she totally screws up, and only she could make it look so perfect.

Warning: She says "fuck" like 5 times, so you might not want to play this if the little kiddies are running away.

She's an inspiration to not just pianists, but all musicians.

Oh, and her guitar's pretty too.

Currently listening: "Samson"- (you guessed it!) Regina Spektor

Screw this Fleur thing. As much as I love that name, it's just not me.

I'm back to just plain A.

A.

I MISS ELLEGIRL.

2007-06-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

I was reading my two, yes two (I didn't discover it until 2 months before it went kaput. Believe me, I was pissed) issues of ELLEgirl and my wounds were ripped open again. I realized just how far it outshone any other magazine out there. Nothing currently in circulation can even hold a candle to our late, beloved ELLEgirl.

It truly encouraged us to "dare to be different." It didn't feature your same old blonde starlet on every cover. It had offbeat, hilarious, quirky writing written by offbeat, hilarious, quirky people. I could read about bands in their that would NEVER have been mentioned in Seventeen. For example: the last issue *tear* featured Be Your Own Pet. The Music Issue featured Sleater-Kinney, in another issue they reviewed both Tilly and the Wall AND Regina Spektor. Hellllo. What band does Seventeen feature? Good Charlotte or Hilary Duff. Ewww.

It had a fresh approach to beauty and fashion. It guided us, gave us general ideas, but never had features like, "APPLY THIS MAKEUP TO WAY TO CONTOUR YOUR NOSE TO LAND THE GUY," or "WEAR THESE SEXY CLOTHES SO HE THINKS YOU'RE HOT." No! It saw girls as unique, beautiful individuals who had other interests BESIDES guys. Yes, it had a 'Guys" section at the back, but it was minimal, and always funny, and real.

When I discovered ELLEgirl, I thought, "Wow, a magazine for a REAL girl! This is so awesome!" It was like the editors understood me, knew exactly what I wanted in a magazine. ELLEgirl was for the girl who maybe felt different, but in a good way. The girl who was insanely cool, off-beat, who preffered Salvation Army to Abercrombie and Fitch every day. Who wanted to be a strong, independent individual, not just another example of teenage conformity.

I have yet to find a magazine that I have loved with all my heart as I did those two blessed, glorious issues of ELLEgirl. Am strongly considering stealing back copies from my library. Shh, quiet now. Don't tell!

I still don't understand why this magazine went kaput. It was booming! Subscriptions were up, as were ads..... I really can't understand it. It left me with a black hole in my heart, and I harped and complained for literally months afterwards.

I will always love you ELLEgirl. COME BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!

Currently listening: "Say Anything (Else)"- Cartel

Fleur! (my adopted name, ain't it SPLENDIFEROUS?)

Takin' it to the streets

2007-06-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

I was never a HUGE fan of the runways. Everything seemed so untouchable, and very difficult to translate to real life. So where do I turn for inspiration? The STREETS, of course. City streets are so alive, and vibrant, and the fashion reflects that.

Meet Fleur, from Paris. First of all, how much am I jealous of her name? I mean, seriously. FLEUR? It means "flower"!!! How stellar is that? Plus, her coat is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and the purple tights just make it that much more special. And who doesn't love the messy-chic hair?

Yay for cool vintage-looking coats, cuffed blue-gray jeans, and killer sneakers.

I would pay anything, GIVE anything, to be able to be in a cool European city riding around on my bike in a cute dress. I hate Pennsylvania.

The whole thing is a little dumpster-chic for me, but those electric blue boots are nirvana. In a shoe. Has anyone ever read the Principles of Love series?

So simple, yet so, so incredibly awesome. This girl outshines the dumpster girl above by a mile.

Oh, me? I'm just a ridiculously awesome hipster with great hair and a killer outfit. No biggy! I'm too cool to care!

Totally office-, even church-appropriate, but so goddam gorgeous.

*Has a jealousy heart attack*

Currently listening to: "New Slang" by the Shins

A

Guess who's going to Warped Tour?

2007-06-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

My neighbor's second cousin's fiance!
Ha. Just kidding.
I AM!!!!!!!!! My dear friend Lily and I are going to Warped Tour, the blessed Warped Tour. We're going to the one in Philly, and I'm so excited I could just.... never mind.

I will be seeing:

All Time Low

Boys Like Girls

Cute Is What We Aim For

Meg And Dia

Paramore

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

The Starting Line

Plus, I may possibly see: The Almost, Bayside, Cinematic Sunrise, Coheed and Cambria, Funeral For A Friend, The Rocket Summer, The Spill Canvas, So They Say, and Tiger Army.

Jealous much? Meh, you should be! I'm REALLY excited, but also kind of scared! I mean, I've never been to a concert. And when I meet the bands, what if I make an ass out of myself? It's not like they'll remember me, but still!

But seriously, I'm really excited! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures after August 3rd!

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone,
A!

Like an awkward blind date.

2007-06-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well, hi. It's me. I SWEAR, THIS is the blog I am going to use.

Sorry for all the confusion!

Cuz he's a scumbag don't you know,
A.