Rest in peace, Papillon.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Papillon
Rest in peace, Papillon.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
18 Was A Good Year
I became an "adult" (legally, anyway!)
I experienced greater freedom
I bought my first lotto ticket
I got hooked on the X-Files
I watched every episode of the X-Files that is in existence
I watched both of the X-Files movies
I got into college
I performed in 2 high school plays, one of which I won an award for
I survived APUSH
I voted for Obama in a WA caucus
I went to an Obama rally and saw him speak
I did well on my AP tests
I graduated from high school with first honors
I went to Disneyland for the first time
I went to my last 6-day as a youth
I went to the X-Files movie premier
I became a freshman in college
I voted for President-elect Obama
I made new friends
I developed a better appreciation for home
I studied Shakespeare
I read approximately 15 plays
I performed in an instant play festival
I was the assistant stage manager for a play
I joined a sorority
I liked a boy...or two... or three....
I saw more snow than I have ever seen before
I finished my first semester of college with a respectable GPA
and... I had an absolutely amazing Christmas!!
18 really was a good year. I'm not ready for it to be over, but tomorrow morning at 4:41, I'll say goodbye to 18 and hit the ground running for the coming year as a 19 year old. Let's hope it will be as exciting and fun as 18 was.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Standed in a Winter Wonderland
Monday, December 15, 2008
Homework, and Papers , and Finals, Oh My!
Tis the season.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig
As soon as this show is over, I'll move on to another episode of Doctor Who. Then, if all goes according to plan and I don't get too lazy, I'll wash dishes, clean the living room, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, change out the laundry, and head to bed around 3.
The fact that Seinfeld just came on after Sex and the City does not bode well for tonight's progress.
Anyway, my hope is that I'll get enough rest and relaxation to be able to go back to school reenergized and ready for all of my homework. Until I go back, however, I'm going to enjoy every minute of freedom. Doctor Who, here I come!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
President Obama
The only thing that I wish had been different about this night is where I celebrated it. I would have given anything to be at home, sitting in my living room with my mom, dad, Brooks, and Tamerlane, cheering on Obama and finally celebrating his victory.
Instead, I was sitting in a small blackbox theatre, taking line notes and awaiting election updates on cnn.com (I brought my laptop). After the election was called, I got to run outside and scream and hug my friend who was also screaming. There were shouts coming up from all over the campus. It was great. But then I had to go and sit in rehearsal for another two hours while the director changed the blocking of every scene we rehearsed (and I might add this is a little over a week before we open).
After rehearsal I talked to my parents a bit, got permission to have a little champagne in celebration (more for myself... they could care less), and went to a friends house and we discussed the play I am ASMing.
Anyway.. I miss my family. I wish I had been home to celebrate this historic occasion.
But the important thing is: Barack Obama is the next president of the United States of America! I could not be prouder of my country right now.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Overwhelmed? Why yes. Yes I am.
Unfortunately my Thursday is going to be identical to today, except not only do I have a Spanish essay due and a Shakespeare quiz that day, I have a 6-8 page Shakespeare paper due on Friday. I've been hoping to get my Shakespeare paper finished by tomorrow, so that I would not have to work with it too much during my non-existent free time on Thursday. Unfortunately, things are not going as planned. I do have a good reason to try to get it finished as soon as possible, and that is that a friend of mine who knows a lot about Shakespeare has said he will take a look at it. Hopefully all will do well. For now I must get back to reading. I still have 20 pages of Romeus and Juliet, 27 chapters of Exodus, a Spanish paper to write, and hopefully a Shakespeare paper to start.
Come Friday, I will be a very happy girl. Until then.... f***.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Theatre Things
I am currently in the rehearsal process for a "lunchbox" (at lunch on a given day, you can buy a ticket, get a sandwich, and sit down to watch a short performance). It is a lot of fun, and I am performing a long monologue called "Mrs. Sorkin." Rehearsals are going well, and now my man concern is memorizing my lines.
Today I am going to meet with the Stage Manager of Perfect Pie, a play that is being directed by a student for his senior project, to begin as her Assistant Stage Manager, or ASM. Tomorrow will be my first full rehearsal with the show. Needless to say, I am very excited for this wonderful opportunity!
This weekend I get to see my parents and my dog, Maddie, as they are coming to visit for Family Weekend. We are going to go see Our Town, which opened last night, and I was able to usher for. We will be cheering on my roommate who has been performing beautifully.
Altogether, things are going very well. I'm going to be very busy with classes, homework, work, lunchbox rehearsals, and 3 hour Perfect Pie rehearsals, but I'm looking forward to every minute of it (well... maybe not the homework)!
AGW
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Yom Kippur
Anyway, shana tova everybody! Have a happy new year and keep that slate clean!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
To Pledge, or Not to Pledge: That is the Question
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
Monday, September 8, 2008
Homesick
Today has basically been a mess of getting up early, waiting for class to end, getting two packages, taking a 2 hour nap, listening to the Senate, eating, and trying to occupy myself with various other things so I don't get to self conscious or weird, and basically trying to get through the day. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The Senate
On a different note, I'm really enjoying college. I just finished my first week of classes, and did in fact end up dropping my history class and adding Beginning Acting, which I am very excited about. It looks like it is going to be a lot of fun, and one of my new friends is in my class. I would have to say that my two favorite classes thus far are definitely Spanish and Modernity & Antiquity. I have really great professors for both classes.
More on them later. I'm headed downtown with some friends. We're stopping by Goodwill to get some clothes for the 80's dance party tonight. I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
First Day of Classes
My first class was Development of U.S. History, and (surprise!) I am thinking of dropping it. I'm a little bummed about it actually, because I absolutely LOVE U.S. History. I thought it would be a fun class to take even though I was in an AP U.S. History class last year. Although we are going to be able to read some very interesting texts in the class, it is at a fairly introductory level, and I'm worried that I will be bored (not to mention after my first night of homework, I'm not sure I'm going to have time for the extra reading). I'm going to talk to my prof. about it today, so hopefully I'll be able to figure something out. It is quite possible that I will be replacing U.S. History with Beginning Acting (which I'm really excited about).
My second class was Spanish 305 (which is a step up from the level I tested into, 205), and I am very excited for this class. My professor is very nice and told us about the history of her name, as well as wet through the course syllabus, all in Spanish of course! I surprised myself and was actually able to understand it all!
My third class was Shakespeare, which is a 300 level English class (I know... what was I thinking?!), but although I entered the classroom terrified, I walked out a little more confident, thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could do this. I forgot to mention, that not only is it a 300 level class, my professor has a reputation for being an EXTREMELY hard grader. But class went very well yesterday, and I learned a lot! I even contributed a little to the class discussion. I'm still incredibly intimidated, as I am the only first year in the class, but I know I'll have the help of my peers, and as long as I seek help when I need it, I should be fine.
And now, for the incredible homework load. Thankfully I finished reading books 1-4 of the Odyssey and submitted a response to an online question for the CORE class I have at 11 today. However, I still have to read Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, including the Norton Introduction, by tomorrow at 1. That, as well as meeting with my history prof., going to a study abroad meeting, attending a CORE coffee talk, and checking out our school's male a cappella group at our study break, will make up the majority of the rest of my day! Well, I better start getting ready for class. Wish me luck!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Dorm Room
Another great thing about my college is that everyone that I've met is really nice and very happy. I think I'm going to enjoy it here.
More later!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Holy S***
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A Day and a Half to Remember
The next day began with a morning drive with my mom in our bathrobes to Golden Gardens to look out at the grey skies and water. I drank sweet peppermint tea and read my book as my mom relaxed. Then it was off to Taco del Mar for some burritos. On the way home we saw this little old man trying to cross the street, and the cross walk light turned red, and he promptly yelled "God Dammit!" Thankfully with the help of a man in the car behind us he made it safely across the street. After we got home we changed into our workout clothes and went shopping. We finally bought some sheets, and got most of our shopping done. Then it was time to decide to skip Jazzercise and I planned to make dinner. Brooks and Tamerlane accepted out invitation over, despite not feeling well, and I made some kick-ass vegetarian Matzah Ball Soup (with chicken broth as an option for the meat eaters) and ended up having to make another batch, due to popular demand. We popped in the X-Files and watched episodes "Kaddish" and "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas." After that it was time to take Brooks and Tamerlane home, where we said our warm goodbyes. Altogether it was a perfect day.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Three Days
Three short little days.
Monday, August 11, 2008
17 Days and Counting
On a brighter note, I've registered for all of my classes. This semester I will be taking:
Development of the U.S. 1607-1877 (my idea of HEAVEN)
Intermediate Spanish
Shakespeare (His earlier plays, I believe)
Antiquity and Modernity
I'm super excited, and have 2 classes three days a week, and 3 classes 2 days a week, so that should be a nice change from 6 classes, 5 days a week. Not to mention, I hand picked 3 out of 4 of my classes, and the one that I didn't pick, I'm super excited for anyway. College life is going to be good :).
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
That Cheating Bastard
Now all that is left is a bleeding family, some broken hearts, and a world of hurt.
When everything seemed so perfect it is impossible to understand how things went so terribly wrong.
I will never again hear him call up the stairs to his loving wife, or feel like his second daughter in their home.
So for now, the neighbor girl stands and watches what she knew so well fall apart while being forever pulled away to see what her future holds.
Two years ago I left them, but as I leave for college, the memory of that second home will never leave me.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
"nailed it!"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Early Morning Torture
The poor guy puts up with a lot, because I'm a complainer. At least I occasionally provide some entertainment, as I confessed the other day that in order to complete difficult sets, I whisper the names of past U.S. presidents who really peeve me. Probably my most used president is Martin Van Buren. He was an ass.
Tuesday and Thursday mornings remind me of my mother's stories of the 600 yard dash. In high school she would feel sick for a week, anticipating the day she would have to run the 600 yard dash, only to stay in bed and have to make it up by herself when she returned. I'm already feeling nervous, with only about 10 minutes to go until I have to leave for the gym. I guzzle a last little bit of water in a desperate attempt to reverse the dehydration that has built up over the past two days.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Obama
"This must be the moment when we answer the call of history. For eight years, we have paid the price for a foreign policy that lectures without listening; that divides us from one another - and from the world - instead of calling us to a common purpose; that focuses on our tactics in fighting a war without end in Iraq instead of forging a new strategy to face down the true threats that we face. We cannot afford four more years of a strategy that is out of balance and out of step with this defining moment.
None of this will be easy, but we have faced great odds before. When General Marshall first spoke about the plan that would bear his name, the rubble of Berlin had not yet been built into a wall. But Marshall knew that even the fiercest of adversaries could forge bonds of friendship founded in freedom. He had the confidence to know that the purpose and pragmatism of the American people could outlast any foe. Today, the dangers and divisions that came with the dawn of the Cold War have receded. Now, the defeat of the threats of the past has been replaced by the transnational threats of today. We know what is needed. We know what can best be done. We know what must done. Now it falls to us to act with the same sense of purpose and pragmatism as an earlier generation, to join with friends and partners to lead the world anew."
I hope that he will indeed bring change. I have to admit I have not been very happy with him for the past few days because of his decision to support H.R. 6304, but this makes me optimistic that American foreign policy will one day promote progress on an international scale.
Quorn
What I do want to mention is that thanks to some amazing relatives/really good friends of mine, I have discovered Quorn, the most amazing meat substitute that I have ever tasted. Now even though I am a vegetarian, my favorite food would have to be chicken, which is very unfortunate seeing that as a vegetarian, I can no longer eat it.
Quorn, however, has the exact same texture, not to mention the exact same flavor as chicken. It is absolutely amazing. I just enjoyed a breaded Quorn "chicken" sandwich for dinner. It was like a taste of heaven. And so now I am pleased to say that I can enjoy the taste of chicken without sacrificing the life of one.
U.S. History
Please understand that I still speak with a limited knowledge of these events, but my frustration with history is real.
Peace,
AGW