July 31st:
Today I went ATVing with a few friends at Pismo Beach. When I was ~ 13 I went ATVing with my parents and brother, but that was pretty much a terrifying experience that I didn't think I would ever want to relive. Luckily, I had the guts to try again, and, boy, wasn't it fun!
After getting a very quick introduction into how to work the ATV, we were set loose to practice on the flat sand near the coast line. That was when I realized that I didn't know what the crap I was doing with my gear shifting. I actually didn't get the hang of the gear shifting until about half an hour in, and only after about a full hour did I fully understand it and get good at it! Whatever, at least I got it eventually.
The first time I was faced with a really steep dune (downhill) I was so freaking scared. Actually, the first three or so times. Fortunately I got over that fear and even got to the point of enjoying going over the edges (so long as I was prepared)! Going uphill was also pretty difficult, but I also got the hang of that pretty quickly, only getting stuck three of four times.
Oh! I successfully did a donut! A COUPLE donuts! And I didn't flip or fall over at any point in the day! I'm really impressed by myself, if you couldn't tell.
After two hours of ATVing, we headed out to lunch and then spent an hour or so on the beach. I walked at the edge of the water while the others played catch/frisbee. Gotta recharge my introvert battery, you know. I collected six whole sand dollars, but I think one of them got lost on their way to my little back pack. Whatever. I never know what to do with them when I get them home anyway... Any ideas?
We ended our time in Pismo with ice cream, which I had been craving all day. Made for a very happy Annie. Although Marianne's is far superior, in my opinion. :3
I'm really glad that I have cool guy friends who plan trips like this and deem me cool enough to invite, so thanks to you R if you're reading this (unlikely).
I'm really tired after this long day, so goodnight! Keep it classy in your dreams! :)
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Rancho San Antonio
July 30th:
This morning I woke up at 6:30 to go hiking/walking at Rancho San Antonio with my friend R. Usually I have to drag myself out of bed in the morning, but it wasn't too hard when I knew I had walking to look forward to. I recommend walking in the early morning at Rancho because it gets pretty hot later in the day and when you get there at 7:30 the temperature is just perfect!
So walking this morning was nice. Then we went to get Jamba Juices, where the woman who working the cashier AND making the drinks let me use an expired coupon for a buy one drink, get one free. So that was sweet. Then she gave me another potential coupon (a survey), which I took and now have a free Jamba Juice in my wallet right now. Hit me up if you wanna get Jamba Juices together :)
I also created pennant strings today, using scrapbook paper and twine. They are pretty cool. Lemme take a picture and upload it... The first is of the bigger triangles, the second the itty bitty ones. :)
After R left, my other R came over and we crafted a bit more before I went to have lunch with a group of friends at In-N-Out. So that was my day. Nothing extravagant. :)
Keep it classy!
Ps: I'm getting back late tomorrow night from a trip, so I may post that day's blog the next day. Sorry folks! :)
This morning I woke up at 6:30 to go hiking/walking at Rancho San Antonio with my friend R. Usually I have to drag myself out of bed in the morning, but it wasn't too hard when I knew I had walking to look forward to. I recommend walking in the early morning at Rancho because it gets pretty hot later in the day and when you get there at 7:30 the temperature is just perfect!
So walking this morning was nice. Then we went to get Jamba Juices, where the woman who working the cashier AND making the drinks let me use an expired coupon for a buy one drink, get one free. So that was sweet. Then she gave me another potential coupon (a survey), which I took and now have a free Jamba Juice in my wallet right now. Hit me up if you wanna get Jamba Juices together :)
I also created pennant strings today, using scrapbook paper and twine. They are pretty cool. Lemme take a picture and upload it... The first is of the bigger triangles, the second the itty bitty ones. :)
After R left, my other R came over and we crafted a bit more before I went to have lunch with a group of friends at In-N-Out. So that was my day. Nothing extravagant. :)
Keep it classy!
Ps: I'm getting back late tomorrow night from a trip, so I may post that day's blog the next day. Sorry folks! :)
Monday, July 29, 2013
Taking Yourself TOO Seriously
July 29th:
First and foremost, I wanna say that I don't mean to encourage you to go crazy and be a fool, but I do want to tell those of my followers who take themselves too seriously to take a chill pill and enjoy life.
A few ways I take my own advice:
1. I write a daily blog, and never edit. I literally NEVER go back and edit things. I don't change wording. I just leave the sentences and words as they are when they spew from my mind. Fingers. Whatever. I think if I began editing, then I would spend hours and hours tying to make each blog post perfect, which would be a waste of time AND would leave me unhappy with my end result. So I leave it as it is.
2. Along with a few friends, I record myself singing random songs and upload them to a youtube channel. I don't have a microphone other than the one built in to my computer, so that's a sign that I don't need to be perfect. We make complete fools of ourselves during filming/singing, which is always a hoot to review. I feel like if you take yourself TOO seriously when making art it will come out all stiff with no life.
3. I don't put my identity in one thing. Grades, popularity, clothes, boys, talent even - none have the power to make or break my happiness in who I am. I'm not saying that I don't take pride in things, my accomplishments, ect, but I don't let them rule my life. I think people who live for Earthly things are all gonna be disappointed in the end.
So... I guess what I'm trying to say is: don't be so uptight about everything. Take a minute to relax and have a little fun! And keep it classy!
First and foremost, I wanna say that I don't mean to encourage you to go crazy and be a fool, but I do want to tell those of my followers who take themselves too seriously to take a chill pill and enjoy life.
A few ways I take my own advice:
1. I write a daily blog, and never edit. I literally NEVER go back and edit things. I don't change wording. I just leave the sentences and words as they are when they spew from my mind. Fingers. Whatever. I think if I began editing, then I would spend hours and hours tying to make each blog post perfect, which would be a waste of time AND would leave me unhappy with my end result. So I leave it as it is.
2. Along with a few friends, I record myself singing random songs and upload them to a youtube channel. I don't have a microphone other than the one built in to my computer, so that's a sign that I don't need to be perfect. We make complete fools of ourselves during filming/singing, which is always a hoot to review. I feel like if you take yourself TOO seriously when making art it will come out all stiff with no life.
3. I don't put my identity in one thing. Grades, popularity, clothes, boys, talent even - none have the power to make or break my happiness in who I am. I'm not saying that I don't take pride in things, my accomplishments, ect, but I don't let them rule my life. I think people who live for Earthly things are all gonna be disappointed in the end.
So... I guess what I'm trying to say is: don't be so uptight about everything. Take a minute to relax and have a little fun! And keep it classy!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Names
July 28th:
As an eighth grader, I thought that one day I might be a fiction author, so I complied a long, strange list of the names I liked and would want to use in my future books. I have now realized that I probably won't be an author, and that most of those names are freaking bizarre, however, I still like talking about names and hearing other peoples' favorites.
I was almost Sierra Jane (a name I absolutely love), but my parents went with Annie Ralaine instead, which is equally cool I suppose. Both name sets(?) include family names, although I have NO idea where they got the idea for Sierra... Whatever. I love it. Maybe I'll name my daughter that.
If I had been a boy, my name would have been Madison Scott, I believe. Can I just say that I'm really happy I was born a female?
My brother is Matthew Gabriel. He got cool, Biblical names. I mean seriously, middle name: Gabriel the Archangel? Hell yeah! Heaven yeah? Uh, YEAH!
Tonight I came to the conclusion that I want my last name to be Saint James. I've been informed by my BMFF (best male friend forever) that there are only 60 men in the US with the last name Saint James. So I'm gonna have to go hunting. But I think it's worth it. Annie Saint James? Oh yeah. My mom said as long as he's rich she's fine. I'm just kidding. But she did say that. Jokingly.
Some of my favorite names include: Elizabeth (because it has SO many options for nicknames AND it's classy), Rose (who WOULDN'T love the name Rose?), Nicholas (also good nicknames and just plain cool), Andrew (for some reason this just seems like a solid name), Jason (yes), Jared (also yes), Zachary (Z names are legit), Zane (my dad's middle name, starts with a Z, also super cool), Maximilian (what boy WOULDN'T want to be named Maximilian?!), among many others. For last names: March, Powers, Saint James, Steele, ect. I like strange names in general, I suppose.
What would you have been named had you not been the gender you are? What names do you love?
Keep it classy, people with names. If you don't have a name... I'm sorry to have offended you by not including you in that outro. You too, can keep it classy.
As an eighth grader, I thought that one day I might be a fiction author, so I complied a long, strange list of the names I liked and would want to use in my future books. I have now realized that I probably won't be an author, and that most of those names are freaking bizarre, however, I still like talking about names and hearing other peoples' favorites.
I was almost Sierra Jane (a name I absolutely love), but my parents went with Annie Ralaine instead, which is equally cool I suppose. Both name sets(?) include family names, although I have NO idea where they got the idea for Sierra... Whatever. I love it. Maybe I'll name my daughter that.
If I had been a boy, my name would have been Madison Scott, I believe. Can I just say that I'm really happy I was born a female?
My brother is Matthew Gabriel. He got cool, Biblical names. I mean seriously, middle name: Gabriel the Archangel? Hell yeah! Heaven yeah? Uh, YEAH!
Tonight I came to the conclusion that I want my last name to be Saint James. I've been informed by my BMFF (best male friend forever) that there are only 60 men in the US with the last name Saint James. So I'm gonna have to go hunting. But I think it's worth it. Annie Saint James? Oh yeah. My mom said as long as he's rich she's fine. I'm just kidding. But she did say that. Jokingly.
Some of my favorite names include: Elizabeth (because it has SO many options for nicknames AND it's classy), Rose (who WOULDN'T love the name Rose?), Nicholas (also good nicknames and just plain cool), Andrew (for some reason this just seems like a solid name), Jason (yes), Jared (also yes), Zachary (Z names are legit), Zane (my dad's middle name, starts with a Z, also super cool), Maximilian (what boy WOULDN'T want to be named Maximilian?!), among many others. For last names: March, Powers, Saint James, Steele, ect. I like strange names in general, I suppose.
What would you have been named had you not been the gender you are? What names do you love?
Keep it classy, people with names. If you don't have a name... I'm sorry to have offended you by not including you in that outro. You too, can keep it classy.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Mount Hermon Ponderosa - Home Away From Home
July 22nd - July 27th:
I just got back from my very last week at Mount Hermon's Ponderosa Lodge for summer camp! Gosh, seven years of summer camp, and two science camps at Pondy and I still am not a bit sick of it!! Well, I went this summer as a graduated senior (Super Senior), so that means that I cannot go back as a camper! SAD! If I ever want to go back, it will have to be as a job... Weird. I'm really gonna miss camp. But enough of the moping for now, here, have a few daily insights:
July 22nd: "Power of Prayer"
Before arriving at Pondy, it's a tradition that my friends R, K, and L and I all go to Bruno's in Scotts Valley and eat a very late lunch/very early dinner. We always go to Pondy together, so we've made a LOT of traditions, which you'll hear about later. But on Monday, we decided to pray for a couple things before stepping into our last week at Pondy:
1. That we all be together in one cabin. The official rule is that only friend groups of two or three can be in the same cabin (for many reasons), but this time my mom called ahead and asked that we four be together, which they said they MIGHT be able to do! So, we prayed to be together in one cabin.
2. We asked for great cabin-mates and a good counselor. Sometimes one gets difficult cabin-mates and we didn't want conflict in our cabin. Also, a counselor can really make or break a week... so we prayed for lovely ladies to spend our week with.
3. That we end up in one of the boys' villages. At Pondy, there are four "villages", two for girls and two for girls, each with six cabins. However, usually more girls come to camp than boys, so there are one or two overflow cabins, placing a few girls in the boys' villages. We had always been in the girls' villages and thought it'd be fun if for our last year we were on the guys' side. There you go.
4. We prayed for an amazing brother cabin. Each girl cabin is paired with a boy cabin and we are a family group for the week, having small group time, and bonding more deeply as a group. Last year, my brother cabin became my best friends at camp and I came to love them DEARLY. I wanted the same experience this year, as did R, L, and K.
I also prayed for a couple little things, like being on the pink team, which really didn't matter ALL that much to me, but I liked the color, so what the heck.
God fulfilled ALL of our prayers. We were all placed in R6 (a boys' village cabin) together, with four other amazing campers, a super relatable counselor, and had the BEST brother cabin out of all! We even were put on the pink team. God right there. No such thing as coincidence here.
July 23rd: "Love Song"
Together with L, R, and K, I am part of a "band" called LARK (clever right?..). We sing together, but have never actually recorded a song. Well, we decided to take advantage of the brand new recording studio at Pondy to record a song! We chose Love Song by Sara Bareilles with L playing the piano, and R, K, and I singing different parts. Tuesday, we practiced about a million times. I swear, I have never had so much difficultly with timing!!! Okay, not much else to say on this topic right now...
On another note, we met a male counselor who was on Broadway and was CAST in glee, but didn't end up accepting the role for moral reasons. I was awestruck as he told us all of this. WHAT THE HECK?! He was in LES MIS ON BROADWAY as both MARIUS AND GAVROCHE!! And he was working at a middle/high school summer camp?! What a strange place to land! I guess God really calls people from all walks of life!!
July 24th: "Discipline of Silence"
Wednesday nights at Pondy are known best for the DOS challenge. DOS stands for Discipline of Silence - a thirty minute period in which the campers are to spend with God, in... silence. God always shows up for me during this time and this night was no different - although it didn't happen in the way I wanted/expected.
Last year I was filled with the Spirit, hardly in control of my own actions and I wanted that experience again, but this year, God decided that what He was gonna do was something a little less radical, however no less powerful. He spoke directly to me the exact thing I didn't want to hear. I'm clinging on to something that is keeping me from being one with God, and He told me that I needed to give it up in order to be filled with Him again.
So, that was pretty cool, although less "exciting" than last year. Less happy too, cause I'm not yet ready to give up what I'm clinging to. It would have been easier if He had stuck me dumb or deaf. Well, I'll take what I'm given I suppose.
July 25th: "Belonging/SMOG Checks"
The irony of belonging to this world is that we cannot TRULY belong anywhere on Earth because we ONLY belong to God. He has gifted us with an unchangeable identity, an unwavering future, and an unshakable belonging in Him. That was the sermon of the night summed up in two sentences. Yay.
My counselor is attending a Christian college and as a result, she is always being surprised by how many amazing men of God there are around her all the time! Her friend at camp taught here this Acronym: SMOG (Sexy Man Of God). Obviously this led to SMOG Check, which is pretty much one of the most hilarious things I've heard in a while. I love my counselor for sharing that with us... Haha!
Thursday, LARK did two big things: we recorded Love Song, and then performed it for the entire camp during open mic night! Both were terrifying for me, but totally worth it, and I'll try to upload the MP3 somehow so you can hear it.
July 26th: "#thatsalawsuitwaitingtohappen"
My counselor's favorite phrase of the week was "that's a lawsuit waiting to happen" because we (as a cabin) wanted to do so many crazy things at camp. However, despite this, on our last night of Pondy, we did something cray. We snuck out of our cabin with our sleeping bags (all of us, not just the campers), ninja'd it across campus, avoiding patrolling staff (because we were breaking camp rules by leaving our cabin at 11pm), and headed up to the skatepark for a little sleeping bag surfing. Half pipes were our slide, and sleeping bags saved our pjs from getting super dirty as we slid down the steep inclines. I have to say that was the most exciting part of camp this year. The run back to our cabin was a lot of fun too, because we were seen and had to book it. SO MUCH FUN.
Before this little escapade, L, K, R, another super senior cabin mate of ours, and I went on the Redwood Canopy Tour down at the Mount Hermon Conference Center. Usually this tour costs ~$100, but as super senior campers, we got to go for free! Our tour guide was a very nice guy whose name started with a P and who looked a LOT like my sixth grade TA... Well, he was hilarious... At one point we was telling us how we can lean back in our harnesses and sit in the air with only our feet on the tree platform (and if you have guts you can go practically level with the ground) and he said "I like horizontal people"... not even a second later swore because he realized what he said and was with a group of girls. That killed all of us. He was blushing so bad. Oh my gosh. Even thinking about it makes me crack up. #thatsalawsuitwaitingtohappen
July 27th: "Home at Home"
Today was my very last day at Ponderosa. I had to say goodbye to lots of new friends AND my home away from home all in one day, maybe never to see either of them again!!! GAAAHHH!!! I met so many people and got to know so many people and bonded with so many people..... SIIIGGGHHH. I am gonna miss Pondy so much and all of my brothers... :'(
Pink team came in last in the team competitions, but that didn't really matter to me, so... Haha! I got the color, I didn't need first place!
I guess all I have to say is... I LOVED this week at Pondy, but I'm really happy to be home.
Keep it classy, folks!
**EDIT**
Here is the link to Love Song, as performed by LARK:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21626265/01%20Love%20Song.m4a
I just got back from my very last week at Mount Hermon's Ponderosa Lodge for summer camp! Gosh, seven years of summer camp, and two science camps at Pondy and I still am not a bit sick of it!! Well, I went this summer as a graduated senior (Super Senior), so that means that I cannot go back as a camper! SAD! If I ever want to go back, it will have to be as a job... Weird. I'm really gonna miss camp. But enough of the moping for now, here, have a few daily insights:
July 22nd: "Power of Prayer"
Before arriving at Pondy, it's a tradition that my friends R, K, and L and I all go to Bruno's in Scotts Valley and eat a very late lunch/very early dinner. We always go to Pondy together, so we've made a LOT of traditions, which you'll hear about later. But on Monday, we decided to pray for a couple things before stepping into our last week at Pondy:
1. That we all be together in one cabin. The official rule is that only friend groups of two or three can be in the same cabin (for many reasons), but this time my mom called ahead and asked that we four be together, which they said they MIGHT be able to do! So, we prayed to be together in one cabin.
2. We asked for great cabin-mates and a good counselor. Sometimes one gets difficult cabin-mates and we didn't want conflict in our cabin. Also, a counselor can really make or break a week... so we prayed for lovely ladies to spend our week with.
3. That we end up in one of the boys' villages. At Pondy, there are four "villages", two for girls and two for girls, each with six cabins. However, usually more girls come to camp than boys, so there are one or two overflow cabins, placing a few girls in the boys' villages. We had always been in the girls' villages and thought it'd be fun if for our last year we were on the guys' side. There you go.
4. We prayed for an amazing brother cabin. Each girl cabin is paired with a boy cabin and we are a family group for the week, having small group time, and bonding more deeply as a group. Last year, my brother cabin became my best friends at camp and I came to love them DEARLY. I wanted the same experience this year, as did R, L, and K.
I also prayed for a couple little things, like being on the pink team, which really didn't matter ALL that much to me, but I liked the color, so what the heck.
God fulfilled ALL of our prayers. We were all placed in R6 (a boys' village cabin) together, with four other amazing campers, a super relatable counselor, and had the BEST brother cabin out of all! We even were put on the pink team. God right there. No such thing as coincidence here.
July 23rd: "Love Song"
Together with L, R, and K, I am part of a "band" called LARK (clever right?..). We sing together, but have never actually recorded a song. Well, we decided to take advantage of the brand new recording studio at Pondy to record a song! We chose Love Song by Sara Bareilles with L playing the piano, and R, K, and I singing different parts. Tuesday, we practiced about a million times. I swear, I have never had so much difficultly with timing!!! Okay, not much else to say on this topic right now...
On another note, we met a male counselor who was on Broadway and was CAST in glee, but didn't end up accepting the role for moral reasons. I was awestruck as he told us all of this. WHAT THE HECK?! He was in LES MIS ON BROADWAY as both MARIUS AND GAVROCHE!! And he was working at a middle/high school summer camp?! What a strange place to land! I guess God really calls people from all walks of life!!
July 24th: "Discipline of Silence"
Wednesday nights at Pondy are known best for the DOS challenge. DOS stands for Discipline of Silence - a thirty minute period in which the campers are to spend with God, in... silence. God always shows up for me during this time and this night was no different - although it didn't happen in the way I wanted/expected.
Last year I was filled with the Spirit, hardly in control of my own actions and I wanted that experience again, but this year, God decided that what He was gonna do was something a little less radical, however no less powerful. He spoke directly to me the exact thing I didn't want to hear. I'm clinging on to something that is keeping me from being one with God, and He told me that I needed to give it up in order to be filled with Him again.
So, that was pretty cool, although less "exciting" than last year. Less happy too, cause I'm not yet ready to give up what I'm clinging to. It would have been easier if He had stuck me dumb or deaf. Well, I'll take what I'm given I suppose.
July 25th: "Belonging/SMOG Checks"
The irony of belonging to this world is that we cannot TRULY belong anywhere on Earth because we ONLY belong to God. He has gifted us with an unchangeable identity, an unwavering future, and an unshakable belonging in Him. That was the sermon of the night summed up in two sentences. Yay.
My counselor is attending a Christian college and as a result, she is always being surprised by how many amazing men of God there are around her all the time! Her friend at camp taught here this Acronym: SMOG (Sexy Man Of God). Obviously this led to SMOG Check, which is pretty much one of the most hilarious things I've heard in a while. I love my counselor for sharing that with us... Haha!
Thursday, LARK did two big things: we recorded Love Song, and then performed it for the entire camp during open mic night! Both were terrifying for me, but totally worth it, and I'll try to upload the MP3 somehow so you can hear it.
July 26th: "#thatsalawsuitwaitingtohappen"
My counselor's favorite phrase of the week was "that's a lawsuit waiting to happen" because we (as a cabin) wanted to do so many crazy things at camp. However, despite this, on our last night of Pondy, we did something cray. We snuck out of our cabin with our sleeping bags (all of us, not just the campers), ninja'd it across campus, avoiding patrolling staff (because we were breaking camp rules by leaving our cabin at 11pm), and headed up to the skatepark for a little sleeping bag surfing. Half pipes were our slide, and sleeping bags saved our pjs from getting super dirty as we slid down the steep inclines. I have to say that was the most exciting part of camp this year. The run back to our cabin was a lot of fun too, because we were seen and had to book it. SO MUCH FUN.
Before this little escapade, L, K, R, another super senior cabin mate of ours, and I went on the Redwood Canopy Tour down at the Mount Hermon Conference Center. Usually this tour costs ~$100, but as super senior campers, we got to go for free! Our tour guide was a very nice guy whose name started with a P and who looked a LOT like my sixth grade TA... Well, he was hilarious... At one point we was telling us how we can lean back in our harnesses and sit in the air with only our feet on the tree platform (and if you have guts you can go practically level with the ground) and he said "I like horizontal people"... not even a second later swore because he realized what he said and was with a group of girls. That killed all of us. He was blushing so bad. Oh my gosh. Even thinking about it makes me crack up. #thatsalawsuitwaitingtohappen
July 27th: "Home at Home"
Today was my very last day at Ponderosa. I had to say goodbye to lots of new friends AND my home away from home all in one day, maybe never to see either of them again!!! GAAAHHH!!! I met so many people and got to know so many people and bonded with so many people..... SIIIGGGHHH. I am gonna miss Pondy so much and all of my brothers... :'(
Pink team came in last in the team competitions, but that didn't really matter to me, so... Haha! I got the color, I didn't need first place!
I guess all I have to say is... I LOVED this week at Pondy, but I'm really happy to be home.
Keep it classy, folks!
**EDIT**
Here is the link to Love Song, as performed by LARK:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21626265/01%20Love%20Song.m4a
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Packing
July 21st:
How do you go about packing? Does it take a lot of time? Thought? Effort? When do you do it?
For me, packing is a multi-hour ordeal, usually stretching over two days. I pack clothes and the things I don't use every day the night before I leave, then go back and pack things like my toothbrush and deodorant the morning that I leave. I like to listen to music as I pack, or even watch a show. I pack outfits instead of just clothes. I have to keep things orderly, with everything that might be affected by elevation contained in a ziplock bag.
I also have a tendency to pack A LOT. I wouldn't say that I OVER pack, because I do end up using everything I bring, it's just a lot. My only duffle bag could fit a medium-sized teenager in it....
Well, that's what I've been doing this morning: last minute packing. Heading off to Pondy in a matter of hours... SO EXCITED.
Keep it classy!
How do you go about packing? Does it take a lot of time? Thought? Effort? When do you do it?
For me, packing is a multi-hour ordeal, usually stretching over two days. I pack clothes and the things I don't use every day the night before I leave, then go back and pack things like my toothbrush and deodorant the morning that I leave. I like to listen to music as I pack, or even watch a show. I pack outfits instead of just clothes. I have to keep things orderly, with everything that might be affected by elevation contained in a ziplock bag.
I also have a tendency to pack A LOT. I wouldn't say that I OVER pack, because I do end up using everything I bring, it's just a lot. My only duffle bag could fit a medium-sized teenager in it....
Well, that's what I've been doing this morning: last minute packing. Heading off to Pondy in a matter of hours... SO EXCITED.
Keep it classy!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Bro Tanks
July 20th:
So, every summer I go to Mount Hermon's Ponderosa summer camp with my friends R, K, and L. The summer of 2011, my friend from Texas, J came with us and introduced us to her summer style: Brightly colored sports bras and "bro tanks". Said bro tanks can be purchased in the men's section in their regular, finished form, or created from t-shirts bought in the men's department.
So, after the summer of 2011, R, K, L, and I decided to make our own to wear at camp! We went to target and bought the shirts and came back to my house to cut off the sleeves and collars. Whabam! Bro tanks! We decided to make more for this summer and this time experimented a little with styles (bows, racer-back, ect.). Here are the three I have (grape and captain america are from last summer, the red one is from today):
I'm excited to wear my bro tank tomorrow as I head off to Pondy! Oh yeah, I won't be blogging regularly that week just like with houseboats, so I'll be writing stuff down, then post it all when I get back :)
Would you ever cut up an old shirt to make it new and improved? Would you even ever wear a bro tank? Keep it classy folks.
So, every summer I go to Mount Hermon's Ponderosa summer camp with my friends R, K, and L. The summer of 2011, my friend from Texas, J came with us and introduced us to her summer style: Brightly colored sports bras and "bro tanks". Said bro tanks can be purchased in the men's section in their regular, finished form, or created from t-shirts bought in the men's department.
So, after the summer of 2011, R, K, L, and I decided to make our own to wear at camp! We went to target and bought the shirts and came back to my house to cut off the sleeves and collars. Whabam! Bro tanks! We decided to make more for this summer and this time experimented a little with styles (bows, racer-back, ect.). Here are the three I have (grape and captain america are from last summer, the red one is from today):
I'm excited to wear my bro tank tomorrow as I head off to Pondy! Oh yeah, I won't be blogging regularly that week just like with houseboats, so I'll be writing stuff down, then post it all when I get back :)
Would you ever cut up an old shirt to make it new and improved? Would you even ever wear a bro tank? Keep it classy folks.
Breakfast
July 19th:
Despite being the most important meal, breakfast is my least favorite. This is for a couple reasons:
1. I can hardly stomach anything in the morning. I can't eat sweet cereals, pancakes (with OR without syrup or other toppings), jam or jelly on toast, or almost any other normal, quick breakfast food. I CAN eat eggs and bacon, but there's no way that happens every morning, so usually I either eat a banana, or I just skip breakfast all together. I think I just have a weak stomach...
2. I don't LIKE the selection of breakfast foods that are served normally. Pancakes are sometimes yummy, but in general, I don't like how they taste. French toast is completely disgusting. Cereal gets all gross and soggy. BLARG.
However, I had breakfast today with my dad at Hobee's and that was nice. I got toast and fruit (as it was already 8 and I had been up for almost an hour, I could stomach the butter and jam on the toast) and orange juice. I don't even like orange juice normally, but every once in a while I'm in the mood for some.. huh. It was really nice to wake up early and have breakfast with my daddy. We ran into a couple neighbors too (the Hobee's we go to is pretty much in our neighborhood, within walking distance for sure).
Do you like breakfast? What are your favorite breakfast food items/places to eat?
Keep it classy, consumers of food! ;)
Despite being the most important meal, breakfast is my least favorite. This is for a couple reasons:
1. I can hardly stomach anything in the morning. I can't eat sweet cereals, pancakes (with OR without syrup or other toppings), jam or jelly on toast, or almost any other normal, quick breakfast food. I CAN eat eggs and bacon, but there's no way that happens every morning, so usually I either eat a banana, or I just skip breakfast all together. I think I just have a weak stomach...
2. I don't LIKE the selection of breakfast foods that are served normally. Pancakes are sometimes yummy, but in general, I don't like how they taste. French toast is completely disgusting. Cereal gets all gross and soggy. BLARG.
However, I had breakfast today with my dad at Hobee's and that was nice. I got toast and fruit (as it was already 8 and I had been up for almost an hour, I could stomach the butter and jam on the toast) and orange juice. I don't even like orange juice normally, but every once in a while I'm in the mood for some.. huh. It was really nice to wake up early and have breakfast with my daddy. We ran into a couple neighbors too (the Hobee's we go to is pretty much in our neighborhood, within walking distance for sure).
Do you like breakfast? What are your favorite breakfast food items/places to eat?
Keep it classy, consumers of food! ;)
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Where Has Summer Gone?!
July 18th:
Seriously! Where has my last summer before college gone?! I thought it'd be the most jam-packed, fun-filled summer of them all! I guess I should get used to not having expectations met in that department (recall my senior year?). I mean, I've had some good times this summer, for sure, but I feel like more than 50% of my time is spent alone, at home. How boring! A few of those days were spent with creative things (crafts, painting my room, ect), but recently (meaning this week in particular), all I have done is sit around and watch shows on Netflix. I've been Netflixing. Le sigh.
I had so many grand plans... Well, I suppose I DO have until September 26th (which is our check-in day), so really I have a good two months or so until my summer is over. But still! Most of my friends leave mid August, so I won't have that many people to hang out with/conquer the rest of my 2013 bucket list with! (ps on the bucket list thing: I KNOW a bucket list is a list of things to do before one DIES, but for me... it's things I want to do before TWENTY-THIRTEEN kicks the bucket, kay? Good). I'm gonna have to come up with a hobby or something that will keep me entertained and non-couch-potatoed. Hmm. Any ideas?
On a separate note: I got my college room and room-mate assignment last night! Very exciting. I stalked my room on Google maps and via the floor plans and I'm extremely happy. I got the dorm I wanted, and a very nice, centrally-located room on the forth floor. It's kinda the odd one out when it comes to SPU dorms because out of the four, it is the only one not in the traditional dorm-room-style with a shared bathroom for the whole hall. My dorm is suite style and you got the choice between "private" bathrooms (you and your room-mate only have access) or "shared" bathrooms (your room and another has access). I got a private bathroom, and I'm pretty darn sure that we have a bathtub, so that makes me giggle with happys. We can also rearrange our furniture, whereas the other dorms cannot. So... I got the best deal, although I have to pay for it because my dorm's rooms are more expensive than the other dorms'. My room-mate is pretty and looks athletic and is going to study physiology to be a orthopedic surgeon, so we do NOT have our majors in common as I am currently pursuing psychology. But that's cool. I'm excited to get to know her! :D
Have any ideas on what I should be doing with my spare time? Other than Netflixing? Keep 'em coming and... keep it classy. :)
Seriously! Where has my last summer before college gone?! I thought it'd be the most jam-packed, fun-filled summer of them all! I guess I should get used to not having expectations met in that department (recall my senior year?). I mean, I've had some good times this summer, for sure, but I feel like more than 50% of my time is spent alone, at home. How boring! A few of those days were spent with creative things (crafts, painting my room, ect), but recently (meaning this week in particular), all I have done is sit around and watch shows on Netflix. I've been Netflixing. Le sigh.
I had so many grand plans... Well, I suppose I DO have until September 26th (which is our check-in day), so really I have a good two months or so until my summer is over. But still! Most of my friends leave mid August, so I won't have that many people to hang out with/conquer the rest of my 2013 bucket list with! (ps on the bucket list thing: I KNOW a bucket list is a list of things to do before one DIES, but for me... it's things I want to do before TWENTY-THIRTEEN kicks the bucket, kay? Good). I'm gonna have to come up with a hobby or something that will keep me entertained and non-couch-potatoed. Hmm. Any ideas?
On a separate note: I got my college room and room-mate assignment last night! Very exciting. I stalked my room on Google maps and via the floor plans and I'm extremely happy. I got the dorm I wanted, and a very nice, centrally-located room on the forth floor. It's kinda the odd one out when it comes to SPU dorms because out of the four, it is the only one not in the traditional dorm-room-style with a shared bathroom for the whole hall. My dorm is suite style and you got the choice between "private" bathrooms (you and your room-mate only have access) or "shared" bathrooms (your room and another has access). I got a private bathroom, and I'm pretty darn sure that we have a bathtub, so that makes me giggle with happys. We can also rearrange our furniture, whereas the other dorms cannot. So... I got the best deal, although I have to pay for it because my dorm's rooms are more expensive than the other dorms'. My room-mate is pretty and looks athletic and is going to study physiology to be a orthopedic surgeon, so we do NOT have our majors in common as I am currently pursuing psychology. But that's cool. I'm excited to get to know her! :D
Have any ideas on what I should be doing with my spare time? Other than Netflixing? Keep 'em coming and... keep it classy. :)
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
TSwift Songs
July 17th:
So, if I had to choose my ALL TIME favorite artist, I wouldn't be able to decide between Owl City and Taylor Swift. Judge me if you must, but I think that despite their reputations for writing the same song over and over, I have to disagree and I think both are amazing, original artists who use their own lives for inspiration instead of faking their emotions.
But this blog isn't about Adam Young (Owl City artist), but TSwift.
I think that there is a Taylor swift song for every stage of life. I've gone through Two is Better Than One, Everything Has Changed, Treacherous, Red, I Knew You Were Trouble, Long Live, The Story of Us, Back to
December, Breathe, The Best Day, Teardrops on My Guitar.. I could go on and on with these songs.
But right now? I think my song is Never Grow Up (referring to myself of course):
"Take pictures in your mind
Of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like
When your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps
Remember the words said
And all your (older) brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone..."
Doesn't that just tug at a part of your heart? I guess as a young adult heading off to college in the fall I'm pretty sentimental and that bit in particular just resonates.
What song do you think fits your life right now? Please share! And... keep it classy!
So, if I had to choose my ALL TIME favorite artist, I wouldn't be able to decide between Owl City and Taylor Swift. Judge me if you must, but I think that despite their reputations for writing the same song over and over, I have to disagree and I think both are amazing, original artists who use their own lives for inspiration instead of faking their emotions.
But this blog isn't about Adam Young (Owl City artist), but TSwift.
I think that there is a Taylor swift song for every stage of life. I've gone through Two is Better Than One, Everything Has Changed, Treacherous, Red, I Knew You Were Trouble, Long Live, The Story of Us, Back to
December, Breathe, The Best Day, Teardrops on My Guitar.. I could go on and on with these songs.
But right now? I think my song is Never Grow Up (referring to myself of course):
"Take pictures in your mind
Of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like
When your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps
Remember the words said
And all your (older) brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone..."
Doesn't that just tug at a part of your heart? I guess as a young adult heading off to college in the fall I'm pretty sentimental and that bit in particular just resonates.
What song do you think fits your life right now? Please share! And... keep it classy!
Classics
July 16th:
So, in general, I would not say that I like "the classics". Many novels that are considered "the classics" I cannot stand (To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, ect.). Old "classic" movies I generally cannot stand (It's a Wonderful Life, Singin' in the Rain, Fantasia, ect.).
However, I find myself saying "It's a classic!" about different things, and I wonder if MY version of "the classics" is just different than everyone else's... Like, some of my classics are Footloose, Pride and Prejudice, and some newer things like LOTR and The Matrix. For me, those are the classics. Maybe I'm just weird. Or maybe it isn't required for everyone to like the classics. Perhaps that's it. Huh. I feel like not liking "the classics" is like, looked down upon in modern society. Is that a vibe you get? Hmm. Gets one thinking.
On another, random note: I just watched seven episodes of New Girl and cannot stop laughing. It's a good in-between... between How I Met Your Mother and Awkward (neither of which I have watched, but both I have heard a lot about). I didn't know it was on Netflix until tonight, so... thank you, Netflix for finally making it available to me? Or... for allowing me to find it? Whatever. Yay Netflix.
Perhaps you can tell I'm very tired. Goodnight. Keep it classy.
<3
So, in general, I would not say that I like "the classics". Many novels that are considered "the classics" I cannot stand (To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, ect.). Old "classic" movies I generally cannot stand (It's a Wonderful Life, Singin' in the Rain, Fantasia, ect.).
However, I find myself saying "It's a classic!" about different things, and I wonder if MY version of "the classics" is just different than everyone else's... Like, some of my classics are Footloose, Pride and Prejudice, and some newer things like LOTR and The Matrix. For me, those are the classics. Maybe I'm just weird. Or maybe it isn't required for everyone to like the classics. Perhaps that's it. Huh. I feel like not liking "the classics" is like, looked down upon in modern society. Is that a vibe you get? Hmm. Gets one thinking.
On another, random note: I just watched seven episodes of New Girl and cannot stop laughing. It's a good in-between... between How I Met Your Mother and Awkward (neither of which I have watched, but both I have heard a lot about). I didn't know it was on Netflix until tonight, so... thank you, Netflix for finally making it available to me? Or... for allowing me to find it? Whatever. Yay Netflix.
Perhaps you can tell I'm very tired. Goodnight. Keep it classy.
<3
Monday, July 15, 2013
My Named Electronics
July 15th:
As a junior-higher, I believed that I would be an author of fiction when I grew up, so I amassed a huge list of my favorite names (most of which were uncommon/unusual) and began numerous stories ("began" being key. i never finished even one). So, as an adult, I now have a large pool of interesting names from which to pull when I need to name something, such as an electronic device, or vehicle.
As a junior, I named our family van "Murphy" after a main character in a book series I had read recently. That character was a girl (yes, a girl named Murphy), but I didn't think my van had a gender really, so I used the name Murphy as a gender neutral name. Sometimes I'll refer to him as a guy, sometimes she'll be female, but really, Murphy has no gender, and it likes it that way. Don't question it.
I named my mom's dark blue SUV The TARDIS. Because. Who wouldn't want to hitch a ride in The TARDIS?! (if you don't knwo what the TARDIS is... look it up and then watch all of Doctor Who).
Last fall I received my beloved SLR camera who I dubbed "Ellington". No, she wasn't named after Duke Ellington (although my friend K's SLR was later named Duke...). Ellington just happened to be a name I liked. I call her Elle sometimes.
For graduation I got an iPhone 5 who I named Zephyr. Now, he got his name for three reasons: I like the word/spelling/sound of "Zephyr". Zephyr is the Greek god of the west wind, and although most of the wind deities were cruel and brought cold or sickness, Zephyr always brought love and warmth and softness which is cool. Lastly, I thought it was cool that I could name such a helpful, useful electronic device after a breeze, cause it makes life "a breeze" when I need something~
I bought my typewriter at the last De Anza flea market, and her name is Tracy. It just suits her. No other reason really. I thought it was a good name for her... <3
Most recently, I received my graduation gift from my parents: a MacBook Pro. I thought about a couple names, but it soon became very very clear that his name was Remington Steele, or just Remington for short. My computer is sleek, looks made out of steel (although it is just aluminum...), and is just plain sexy. Like Remington Steele. If you don't know who that is... Go find out and report back once you're 100% in love with a(nother) fictional character. ;)
Sorry this post is so long, yet full of nothing but random trivia about my electronics... I'm very tired for some reason. I think going to college group tonight just tired me out... *introvert issues*
Do you name your electronics? Cars? Post your names here! Keep it classy~
As a junior-higher, I believed that I would be an author of fiction when I grew up, so I amassed a huge list of my favorite names (most of which were uncommon/unusual) and began numerous stories ("began" being key. i never finished even one). So, as an adult, I now have a large pool of interesting names from which to pull when I need to name something, such as an electronic device, or vehicle.
As a junior, I named our family van "Murphy" after a main character in a book series I had read recently. That character was a girl (yes, a girl named Murphy), but I didn't think my van had a gender really, so I used the name Murphy as a gender neutral name. Sometimes I'll refer to him as a guy, sometimes she'll be female, but really, Murphy has no gender, and it likes it that way. Don't question it.
I named my mom's dark blue SUV The TARDIS. Because. Who wouldn't want to hitch a ride in The TARDIS?! (if you don't knwo what the TARDIS is... look it up and then watch all of Doctor Who).
Last fall I received my beloved SLR camera who I dubbed "Ellington". No, she wasn't named after Duke Ellington (although my friend K's SLR was later named Duke...). Ellington just happened to be a name I liked. I call her Elle sometimes.
For graduation I got an iPhone 5 who I named Zephyr. Now, he got his name for three reasons: I like the word/spelling/sound of "Zephyr". Zephyr is the Greek god of the west wind, and although most of the wind deities were cruel and brought cold or sickness, Zephyr always brought love and warmth and softness which is cool. Lastly, I thought it was cool that I could name such a helpful, useful electronic device after a breeze, cause it makes life "a breeze" when I need something~
I bought my typewriter at the last De Anza flea market, and her name is Tracy. It just suits her. No other reason really. I thought it was a good name for her... <3
Most recently, I received my graduation gift from my parents: a MacBook Pro. I thought about a couple names, but it soon became very very clear that his name was Remington Steele, or just Remington for short. My computer is sleek, looks made out of steel (although it is just aluminum...), and is just plain sexy. Like Remington Steele. If you don't know who that is... Go find out and report back once you're 100% in love with a(nother) fictional character. ;)
Sorry this post is so long, yet full of nothing but random trivia about my electronics... I'm very tired for some reason. I think going to college group tonight just tired me out... *introvert issues*
Do you name your electronics? Cars? Post your names here! Keep it classy~
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Scratch and Sniff Cows
July 14th:
So, if you've ever been to Marianne's Ice Cream in Santa Cruz, you may remember that the wallpaper in the indoor seating area has a pattern of cows on it. They're little dancing cows with different colored baseball caps on:
(photo taken from Yelp)
Well, last summer I went to Marianne's with a bunch of friends after a day at the beach and someone (I believe it was T) had us all going that the wallpaper was scratch and sniff and that each cow had a different scent according to what color his hat was. Well, I scratched and sniffed (as did MANY others), but to no avail.
Of course, when I went there with my mom and friends today, I just HAD to see if my mom would fall for it. When I had her alone at the table (A and R were getting their ice cream), I told her that the wallpaper was really cool and that it was scratch and sniff. She didn't look convince exactly, but didn't look totally UNCONVINCED either, so I decided to continue with the ruse, knowing that A and R both would know what I was up to. Well, apparently A thought I was trying to trick her again and almost blew my cover, but luckily R came to the rescue and provided the back story and the different scents. After we were done consuming our ice cream, my mom got up to get water and I prodded her to scratch and sniff. Still wary, she bent to scratch, then looked at us all holding in our laughter at the table in the mirror on the wall, and for SOME Godforsaken reason she still decided to sniff it regardless of our snickers.
The moment she figured out she had been duped she launched a tickle attack on me and I spilled water all over one of the chairs before escaping outside.
I don't think I will EVER forget her face when she realized we were all lying... PRICELESS.
Has this ever happened to you? Either with the Marianne's Scratch and Sniff Cows, or something else? Were you the duper or the duped? Try this on your friends, it really pays off! Keep it classy, ice cream lovers!
(my cone: "fresh banana" on top and "10-20" on bottom"... I love Marianne's...)
So, if you've ever been to Marianne's Ice Cream in Santa Cruz, you may remember that the wallpaper in the indoor seating area has a pattern of cows on it. They're little dancing cows with different colored baseball caps on:
Well, last summer I went to Marianne's with a bunch of friends after a day at the beach and someone (I believe it was T) had us all going that the wallpaper was scratch and sniff and that each cow had a different scent according to what color his hat was. Well, I scratched and sniffed (as did MANY others), but to no avail.
Of course, when I went there with my mom and friends today, I just HAD to see if my mom would fall for it. When I had her alone at the table (A and R were getting their ice cream), I told her that the wallpaper was really cool and that it was scratch and sniff. She didn't look convince exactly, but didn't look totally UNCONVINCED either, so I decided to continue with the ruse, knowing that A and R both would know what I was up to. Well, apparently A thought I was trying to trick her again and almost blew my cover, but luckily R came to the rescue and provided the back story and the different scents. After we were done consuming our ice cream, my mom got up to get water and I prodded her to scratch and sniff. Still wary, she bent to scratch, then looked at us all holding in our laughter at the table in the mirror on the wall, and for SOME Godforsaken reason she still decided to sniff it regardless of our snickers.
The moment she figured out she had been duped she launched a tickle attack on me and I spilled water all over one of the chairs before escaping outside.
I don't think I will EVER forget her face when she realized we were all lying... PRICELESS.
Has this ever happened to you? Either with the Marianne's Scratch and Sniff Cows, or something else? Were you the duper or the duped? Try this on your friends, it really pays off! Keep it classy, ice cream lovers!
Random Acts of Kindness
July 13th:
So I spent this weekend with a couple girlfriends on the coast and we stayed Saturday night at Costanoa, a nice lodge/campsite. We stayed in two of their tents/bungalows which meant we could have a little campfire outside, but that comes into play in a bit. So, the lodge has a hot tub that is available to only those staying in the lodge, but we didn't know that, so when we went to ask at the front desk when the tub closed they asked us if we were staying in the lodge, which we said we were not, and they informed us that it wasn't available to us. Dejected, we turned to my mom for a new idea of something to do at 10pm, but the gentleman at the front desk got our attention and slipped us a key saying that he'd let us in, because he had already lit the fire in the lobby for my mom and he might as well let her enjoy it! :D So he let us in the hot tub and my mom enjoyed her personal fire! Whoot!
About two hours later, when we were all hot-tubbed out and ready to build our own little campfire using purchased wood we found that apparently we SUCK at building a campfire! Or... the wood was wet. The other girls say the wood was "wet", but I think we just didn't follow the fire-starter's directions and failed. Either way, around midnight we went back to the lobby to purchase a duraflame log and the same guy was working! When I asked how much a log would be, his associate was like: "I don't think we sell those..." and our guy smiled, set one on the counter, and said, "We don't sell them". My friend A was confused, but L and R quickly caught on, realizing that he was giving us a free log! WHAT A SWEETHEART! We had actually already written him a thank you note for allowing us to use the hot tub, so we traded that for the log and went on our merry way. He seemed very happy to get the thank you note, it was cute.
We ended up not needing the log to get the fire going, as R blew on the embers and SOMEHOW built a fire out of it where L, A, and my mother had totally failed. We did add in the duraflame log later to keep it blazing, but it wasn't necessary.
I guess the point of this post is me being thankful for this one guy who made our stay at Costanoa SO much more enjoyable and fun. I wish everyone was so kind!
Keep it classy folks.
So I spent this weekend with a couple girlfriends on the coast and we stayed Saturday night at Costanoa, a nice lodge/campsite. We stayed in two of their tents/bungalows which meant we could have a little campfire outside, but that comes into play in a bit. So, the lodge has a hot tub that is available to only those staying in the lodge, but we didn't know that, so when we went to ask at the front desk when the tub closed they asked us if we were staying in the lodge, which we said we were not, and they informed us that it wasn't available to us. Dejected, we turned to my mom for a new idea of something to do at 10pm, but the gentleman at the front desk got our attention and slipped us a key saying that he'd let us in, because he had already lit the fire in the lobby for my mom and he might as well let her enjoy it! :D So he let us in the hot tub and my mom enjoyed her personal fire! Whoot!
About two hours later, when we were all hot-tubbed out and ready to build our own little campfire using purchased wood we found that apparently we SUCK at building a campfire! Or... the wood was wet. The other girls say the wood was "wet", but I think we just didn't follow the fire-starter's directions and failed. Either way, around midnight we went back to the lobby to purchase a duraflame log and the same guy was working! When I asked how much a log would be, his associate was like: "I don't think we sell those..." and our guy smiled, set one on the counter, and said, "We don't sell them". My friend A was confused, but L and R quickly caught on, realizing that he was giving us a free log! WHAT A SWEETHEART! We had actually already written him a thank you note for allowing us to use the hot tub, so we traded that for the log and went on our merry way. He seemed very happy to get the thank you note, it was cute.
We ended up not needing the log to get the fire going, as R blew on the embers and SOMEHOW built a fire out of it where L, A, and my mother had totally failed. We did add in the duraflame log later to keep it blazing, but it wasn't necessary.
I guess the point of this post is me being thankful for this one guy who made our stay at Costanoa SO much more enjoyable and fun. I wish everyone was so kind!
Keep it classy folks.
Friday, July 12, 2013
The Gift of Fear
July 12th:
So yesterday my neighbor/friend came over to chat with my mom and brought along with her a little pre-college gift for me: a book titled "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker. I thought it was a bit of a weird gift to give a teenager, but I accepted it graciously and planned on tucking it away with all of the other strange little books I've gotten from people throughout the years. However, last night I thought I'd give it a chance, so I plopped down to read the first chapter, named "In the Presence of Danger". Immediately I was sucked into the story of a young woman who at first didn't listen to her intuition, but later did - which saved her life. Despite being a little creepy, the first chapter (and the next) were extremely real, down-to-earth, and eye-opening about how fear and gut feelings are a gift in any situation in which violence may occur: from carrying one's groceries to one's car, to walking through a park.
I had planned on sticking "The Gift of Fear" on a shelf to be forgotten and gather dust, however now I'm not only a third of the way through it (page 106 out of 315), but I also want to recommend it to all of my female friends - young AND old. "THIS BOOK CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE" is written on the cover, and although I thought at first that that was just a tag line to get you interested, now I actually believe it. I am truly convinced that any and every person who reads this book will be more prepared to get out of any possibly dangerous situation and protect those they love.
Every story in the book is true, and although they are in most cases disturbing, I have come to the conclusion that as a young woman I have been too sheltered from the truths of violence in every day life.
Reading this book is really thought-provoking and I think if I was put into one of the many situations described in the book NOW, having read even just a third of it, I would be much better prepared to avoid violence.
So, I DO encourage you to read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker (assuming you are... 15 or older). Tell me if you decide to pick it up and we can talk about it! Keep it classy my friends~
So yesterday my neighbor/friend came over to chat with my mom and brought along with her a little pre-college gift for me: a book titled "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker. I thought it was a bit of a weird gift to give a teenager, but I accepted it graciously and planned on tucking it away with all of the other strange little books I've gotten from people throughout the years. However, last night I thought I'd give it a chance, so I plopped down to read the first chapter, named "In the Presence of Danger". Immediately I was sucked into the story of a young woman who at first didn't listen to her intuition, but later did - which saved her life. Despite being a little creepy, the first chapter (and the next) were extremely real, down-to-earth, and eye-opening about how fear and gut feelings are a gift in any situation in which violence may occur: from carrying one's groceries to one's car, to walking through a park.
I had planned on sticking "The Gift of Fear" on a shelf to be forgotten and gather dust, however now I'm not only a third of the way through it (page 106 out of 315), but I also want to recommend it to all of my female friends - young AND old. "THIS BOOK CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE" is written on the cover, and although I thought at first that that was just a tag line to get you interested, now I actually believe it. I am truly convinced that any and every person who reads this book will be more prepared to get out of any possibly dangerous situation and protect those they love.
Every story in the book is true, and although they are in most cases disturbing, I have come to the conclusion that as a young woman I have been too sheltered from the truths of violence in every day life.
Reading this book is really thought-provoking and I think if I was put into one of the many situations described in the book NOW, having read even just a third of it, I would be much better prepared to avoid violence.
So, I DO encourage you to read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker (assuming you are... 15 or older). Tell me if you decide to pick it up and we can talk about it! Keep it classy my friends~
Thursday, July 11, 2013
BAADAL
July 11th:
So, my dad works at Google as a... I don't even know. Something engineery. Well, that's not the point. As a Google employee, or "Googler" as they call themselves, one of many privileges they enjoy is free food from any one of countless "cafes". All of these cafes are manned by professional, critically acclaimed chefs and occasionally they have famous chefs come to cook for Googlers, such as Bobby Flay. I think that's pretty cool. They are also allowed to bring their friends and families to join them for meals, which is really nice and a cool way to see my dad in the middle of the work day!
Today my mother and I went to eat lunch with my dad at one of the newer cafes: BAADAL, a very nice Indian "restaurant". See, I use the word restaurant because BAADAL, unlike the other cafes who are buffet-sytle, is sit-down and the cafe staff actually bring you your food to the table. For free. It's run like a restaurant, but is free to employees (and their guests)! I thought that was very cool! It actually looked like a pretty high class joint too: mood lighting, fancy interior design, nice table-wear. All very classy! I was impressed.
So that's where I had lunch today! I also hosted a little arts and crafts day with some girlfriends and we had fun creating masterpieces together! :D I love my girls.
I hope you as good of a day as I did! Keep it classy!
So, my dad works at Google as a... I don't even know. Something engineery. Well, that's not the point. As a Google employee, or "Googler" as they call themselves, one of many privileges they enjoy is free food from any one of countless "cafes". All of these cafes are manned by professional, critically acclaimed chefs and occasionally they have famous chefs come to cook for Googlers, such as Bobby Flay. I think that's pretty cool. They are also allowed to bring their friends and families to join them for meals, which is really nice and a cool way to see my dad in the middle of the work day!
Today my mother and I went to eat lunch with my dad at one of the newer cafes: BAADAL, a very nice Indian "restaurant". See, I use the word restaurant because BAADAL, unlike the other cafes who are buffet-sytle, is sit-down and the cafe staff actually bring you your food to the table. For free. It's run like a restaurant, but is free to employees (and their guests)! I thought that was very cool! It actually looked like a pretty high class joint too: mood lighting, fancy interior design, nice table-wear. All very classy! I was impressed.
So that's where I had lunch today! I also hosted a little arts and crafts day with some girlfriends and we had fun creating masterpieces together! :D I love my girls.
I hope you as good of a day as I did! Keep it classy!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Reconciliation
July 10th:
Today I had lunch with an old friend I grew up with, but who, two years ago, stopped being my friend for some unknown reason. Let's see, that was sophomore year, so I was fifteen or so - young enough to be very much less mature than I am now, meaning that dealing with friendship problems seemed an impossible task. Well, I had my guesses as to why my friend "unfriended" me, but I wasn't completely sure, as it could have been a number of things. Either way, I don't think I ever asked them why they stopped being my friend until a week ago - but we'll get to that in a second! I tried to reach out a few times after they quit talking to me, but with no response I quickly gave up and left the friendship for dead, moving on in my life without my childhood friend. This made me sad, but mostly annoyed and frustrated because they gave up on me for no apparent reason and didn't even try to explain why they didn't want to be friends anymore!
Well, while on Houseboats I realized that I didn't want to go to college without reconciling, or at least TRYING. I wrote a letter and sent it in the mail when I got home, not really expecting a response. But look, a facebook message! Oh, they DO want to have lunch and talk? Maybe I'd get my answer as to why they stopped being my friend and be able to come to terms/get on friendly terms again!
So I met them for lunch today and when it came down to the reason why they gave up on our friendship, after they explained, it all made sense and I took it graciously. I understood the problem(s) and the other circumstances in their life at the time and that they decided to focus their attentions on the others things - although I DO think dropping a friendship isn't ever ever cool if you don't talk to the person about your issues first. Apparently a couple times during the two years we talked about certain issues we had with each other, but obviously those conversations didn't fix anything, and really they never mentioned their main issue, so there wasn't really anything that I could do.
Lunch went well and by the end we were laughing about TV shows and catching up on the parts of each other's lives we had missed. I don't expect to be close friends or anything with them because we HAVE become very different people, but I'm happy with what I've got: an explanation and a reconciliation.
If you have any of these sorts of mysterious problems with old friends, I encourage you to reach out and try to talk to them - you may not get a response, but you also may mend a little part of your heart that you didn't know was broken the whole time. Keep it classy folks!
Also... if you have been commenting on these blogs, for some reason blogger hasn't been posting them, so I never saw your comment(s). Sorry about that - I THINK I may have fixed the issue, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe if you leave a comment we can check! :3
Today I had lunch with an old friend I grew up with, but who, two years ago, stopped being my friend for some unknown reason. Let's see, that was sophomore year, so I was fifteen or so - young enough to be very much less mature than I am now, meaning that dealing with friendship problems seemed an impossible task. Well, I had my guesses as to why my friend "unfriended" me, but I wasn't completely sure, as it could have been a number of things. Either way, I don't think I ever asked them why they stopped being my friend until a week ago - but we'll get to that in a second! I tried to reach out a few times after they quit talking to me, but with no response I quickly gave up and left the friendship for dead, moving on in my life without my childhood friend. This made me sad, but mostly annoyed and frustrated because they gave up on me for no apparent reason and didn't even try to explain why they didn't want to be friends anymore!
Well, while on Houseboats I realized that I didn't want to go to college without reconciling, or at least TRYING. I wrote a letter and sent it in the mail when I got home, not really expecting a response. But look, a facebook message! Oh, they DO want to have lunch and talk? Maybe I'd get my answer as to why they stopped being my friend and be able to come to terms/get on friendly terms again!
So I met them for lunch today and when it came down to the reason why they gave up on our friendship, after they explained, it all made sense and I took it graciously. I understood the problem(s) and the other circumstances in their life at the time and that they decided to focus their attentions on the others things - although I DO think dropping a friendship isn't ever ever cool if you don't talk to the person about your issues first. Apparently a couple times during the two years we talked about certain issues we had with each other, but obviously those conversations didn't fix anything, and really they never mentioned their main issue, so there wasn't really anything that I could do.
Lunch went well and by the end we were laughing about TV shows and catching up on the parts of each other's lives we had missed. I don't expect to be close friends or anything with them because we HAVE become very different people, but I'm happy with what I've got: an explanation and a reconciliation.
If you have any of these sorts of mysterious problems with old friends, I encourage you to reach out and try to talk to them - you may not get a response, but you also may mend a little part of your heart that you didn't know was broken the whole time. Keep it classy folks!
Also... if you have been commenting on these blogs, for some reason blogger hasn't been posting them, so I never saw your comment(s). Sorry about that - I THINK I may have fixed the issue, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe if you leave a comment we can check! :3
Community Cars and Cowboys
July 9th:
I went to my very first drive-in movie tonight with a bunch of friends (E, K, M, M, K, D, and P) and it was so so so so awesome. We saw Lone Ranger, which was really funny and amusing, but not HQ, so I recommend it if you want to be amused, but not if you care about the plot or substance of the movie. K and E and I pillow-cushioned the back of E's SUV, K, M, and M pulled out some van chairs and put them in front of our trunk, and D and P lounged in the bed of their truck (parked next to us). The screen was huge and the car stereo worked as the sound system using the radio so we didn't have too much of a problem hearing things - although TWENTY-THREE planes passed overhead and three TRAINS passed nearby. Those didn't bother me too much though, although they drove M bonkers.
Today, I also went to Filoli and took a behind-the-scenes tour with a family friend, which was pretty interesting, although I would have much rather spent the time sitting beneath one of the beautiful trees and read. But the tour was exclusive, so I guess it was worth the walking and the sun. Maybe.
That's all for today folks! Keep it classy!!
I went to my very first drive-in movie tonight with a bunch of friends (E, K, M, M, K, D, and P) and it was so so so so awesome. We saw Lone Ranger, which was really funny and amusing, but not HQ, so I recommend it if you want to be amused, but not if you care about the plot or substance of the movie. K and E and I pillow-cushioned the back of E's SUV, K, M, and M pulled out some van chairs and put them in front of our trunk, and D and P lounged in the bed of their truck (parked next to us). The screen was huge and the car stereo worked as the sound system using the radio so we didn't have too much of a problem hearing things - although TWENTY-THREE planes passed overhead and three TRAINS passed nearby. Those didn't bother me too much though, although they drove M bonkers.
Today, I also went to Filoli and took a behind-the-scenes tour with a family friend, which was pretty interesting, although I would have much rather spent the time sitting beneath one of the beautiful trees and read. But the tour was exclusive, so I guess it was worth the walking and the sun. Maybe.
That's all for today folks! Keep it classy!!
Monday, July 8, 2013
A Day of DIYs
July 8th:
Today I buckled down and did a couple DIYs that I had been wanting to get to for a while.
I mentioned in my blog yesterday that I made some earrings, but today I finished them up (as I didn't have the actual earring hooks yet and had to go out and buy them). I made four pairs of feather earrings out of duct tape - very fun! Multiple colors and sizes, I feel like I could make a mini-business out of creating them if others liked them as much as I do!
Today I also painted a small shelf unit that used to be a dark green and say "coffee" on it. I made it match my room by painting it the same light green as my wall and put it up on my grey wall. It's a nice mellow compliment to the room.
What I'm most proud of however, is my new set of earring displays. On saturday, my mom bought a couple old shutters that had been revamped into chicken-wire earring holders. Having far too many earrings to continue keeping them on my tiny tiny table-top display, and feeling inspired, I purchased a couple old picture frames and set out to create my own, one of a kinda earring display! I painted my frames blue (to match my other wall) and outfitted them with silver-dotted burlap and a couple faux flowers to spruce them up. I'm extremely proud of how they turned out and wouldn't mind at all doing something similar again (either as a gift or for some other use).
Here are some fun pictures: (you'll notice I also painted a few little baby lanterns to match my room. I don't know what to do with them yet though.)
Don't you feel like busting out those crafting skills deep down and creating something fun?! ;) Keep it classy, my friends.
Today I buckled down and did a couple DIYs that I had been wanting to get to for a while.
I mentioned in my blog yesterday that I made some earrings, but today I finished them up (as I didn't have the actual earring hooks yet and had to go out and buy them). I made four pairs of feather earrings out of duct tape - very fun! Multiple colors and sizes, I feel like I could make a mini-business out of creating them if others liked them as much as I do!
Today I also painted a small shelf unit that used to be a dark green and say "coffee" on it. I made it match my room by painting it the same light green as my wall and put it up on my grey wall. It's a nice mellow compliment to the room.
What I'm most proud of however, is my new set of earring displays. On saturday, my mom bought a couple old shutters that had been revamped into chicken-wire earring holders. Having far too many earrings to continue keeping them on my tiny tiny table-top display, and feeling inspired, I purchased a couple old picture frames and set out to create my own, one of a kinda earring display! I painted my frames blue (to match my other wall) and outfitted them with silver-dotted burlap and a couple faux flowers to spruce them up. I'm extremely proud of how they turned out and wouldn't mind at all doing something similar again (either as a gift or for some other use).
Here are some fun pictures: (you'll notice I also painted a few little baby lanterns to match my room. I don't know what to do with them yet though.)
Don't you feel like busting out those crafting skills deep down and creating something fun?! ;) Keep it classy, my friends.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
StumbleUpon
July 7th:
Other people have Twitter, or Pinterest, or Tumblr, but I have StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon is "a discovery engine (a form of web search engine) that finds and recommends web content to its users. Its features allow users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos that are personalized to their tastes and interests" (Wikipedia). Pretty much, you choose topics that interest you out of a huge list, and then "stumble" your interests, meaning that you hit the "stumble" button and it brings up a page that adheres to one or more of your interests. A couple of my "interests" are Literature, Crafts, and Interior Design. This means that I get sites with DIYs, awesome decoration/home design stuff, and fun quotes and book recommendations. I spend hours on StumbleUpon without knowing it!
Recently I've been really into crafts and DIYs and StumbleUpon has been a true inspiration, giving me new ideas at every click! I made some earrings today on a whim because of a picture I saw on StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon inspired my bedroom painting as if brought me to a color pallet website. If I ever have a half hour or free time and I happen to be sitting at my computer: StumbleUpon, here I come!
I recommend that you try it out - free to join and plenty of fun! Keep it classy, mes amis!
Other people have Twitter, or Pinterest, or Tumblr, but I have StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon is "a discovery engine (a form of web search engine) that finds and recommends web content to its users. Its features allow users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos that are personalized to their tastes and interests" (Wikipedia). Pretty much, you choose topics that interest you out of a huge list, and then "stumble" your interests, meaning that you hit the "stumble" button and it brings up a page that adheres to one or more of your interests. A couple of my "interests" are Literature, Crafts, and Interior Design. This means that I get sites with DIYs, awesome decoration/home design stuff, and fun quotes and book recommendations. I spend hours on StumbleUpon without knowing it!
Recently I've been really into crafts and DIYs and StumbleUpon has been a true inspiration, giving me new ideas at every click! I made some earrings today on a whim because of a picture I saw on StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon inspired my bedroom painting as if brought me to a color pallet website. If I ever have a half hour or free time and I happen to be sitting at my computer: StumbleUpon, here I come!
I recommend that you try it out - free to join and plenty of fun! Keep it classy, mes amis!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
The Market of Fleas
July 6th:
Or, the flea market. Whatever. :)
Every first saturday of the month the De Anza Flea Market blesses the citizens of the bay area with hundreds of funky little unique selections of "treasure". Most of the stuff sold is junk or overpriced, however there are always those perfectly hidden pots of gold where one can find extremely cheap earrings, craft supplies, or art (among other things). I love going with my mom and/or my friends, and since I hadn't gone in, I think, more than half a year, I thought it was time to darken the doorstep of De Anza. Oh boy, am I glad I went!
I got a boatload of fun little things including jewelry and things that I am using for DIYs, but my absolute favorite purchase of the day was a 1970s Olivetti Lettera 35 Taupe Portable Typewriter. Fully functional and in good shape, the woman who I bought it from had taken it apart and painted the ugly tan metal casing a very pretty turquoise. I named her Tracy, because I feel like that's a good name for the 70s, and it just sorta fit her.. :) I'm extremely happy with that purchase.
Another of my favorite purchases was two empty picture frames for $.25 each. I took them home, painted them to match my bedroom, and soon will be filling the space usually taken up by the photo, glass, and cardboard backing with either lace, lace ribbon, or chicken wire. I'm going to use them as earring displays to hang on my wall. I love DIYs!!!
I encourage you, if you have never gone, to go to the next De Anza Flea Market (or any other flea market). One can really find awesome stuff, and if you're good, you can get it cheap by talking the seller down! Have fun shopping (digging?), and keep it classy!
Or, the flea market. Whatever. :)
Every first saturday of the month the De Anza Flea Market blesses the citizens of the bay area with hundreds of funky little unique selections of "treasure". Most of the stuff sold is junk or overpriced, however there are always those perfectly hidden pots of gold where one can find extremely cheap earrings, craft supplies, or art (among other things). I love going with my mom and/or my friends, and since I hadn't gone in, I think, more than half a year, I thought it was time to darken the doorstep of De Anza. Oh boy, am I glad I went!
I got a boatload of fun little things including jewelry and things that I am using for DIYs, but my absolute favorite purchase of the day was a 1970s Olivetti Lettera 35 Taupe Portable Typewriter. Fully functional and in good shape, the woman who I bought it from had taken it apart and painted the ugly tan metal casing a very pretty turquoise. I named her Tracy, because I feel like that's a good name for the 70s, and it just sorta fit her.. :) I'm extremely happy with that purchase.
Another of my favorite purchases was two empty picture frames for $.25 each. I took them home, painted them to match my bedroom, and soon will be filling the space usually taken up by the photo, glass, and cardboard backing with either lace, lace ribbon, or chicken wire. I'm going to use them as earring displays to hang on my wall. I love DIYs!!!
I encourage you, if you have never gone, to go to the next De Anza Flea Market (or any other flea market). One can really find awesome stuff, and if you're good, you can get it cheap by talking the seller down! Have fun shopping (digging?), and keep it classy!
Movie Nights
July 5th:
Tonight I hosted a movie night in my renovated garage. I invited a pretty big crowd, and the turnout was 6 guys and 3 girls. That ratio alone surprised me, but it was fun to have such an unusual bunch. We watched Captain America first, then settled on the first Pirates of the Caribbean for the second (which ended about a half hour ago, thus the late blog post!).
Two summers ago my father and I tackled our unfinished (as in, no drywall, all-concrete, ect) garage to recreate it as a home theatre with a projector and (semi-)surround sound. It hasn't gotten TOO much use, mostly because the garage is our go-to for all our junk that we're too lazy to put away. But recently I've been wanting to host more movie nights, so here we go!
Midway through Pirates I fell asleep, but was lucid enough to hear my name when people said things like "Is Annie asleep?". But that was okay, I've seen that movie many many times.
Sorry for not posting anything deep or interesting.... Keep it classy!
Tonight I hosted a movie night in my renovated garage. I invited a pretty big crowd, and the turnout was 6 guys and 3 girls. That ratio alone surprised me, but it was fun to have such an unusual bunch. We watched Captain America first, then settled on the first Pirates of the Caribbean for the second (which ended about a half hour ago, thus the late blog post!).
Two summers ago my father and I tackled our unfinished (as in, no drywall, all-concrete, ect) garage to recreate it as a home theatre with a projector and (semi-)surround sound. It hasn't gotten TOO much use, mostly because the garage is our go-to for all our junk that we're too lazy to put away. But recently I've been wanting to host more movie nights, so here we go!
Midway through Pirates I fell asleep, but was lucid enough to hear my name when people said things like "Is Annie asleep?". But that was okay, I've seen that movie many many times.
Sorry for not posting anything deep or interesting.... Keep it classy!
Friday, July 5, 2013
Patriotism
July 4th:
Happy Independence Day! No, I don't say "Happy 4th of July!" To me, that is the same as saying "Happy 7th of July!" or "Happy 26th of February!" Simplifying Independence Day down to a date is a huge problem in America (in my opinion).
At least with the name Independence Day, one takes a moment to consider our independence from Britain, or at least the word independence and what it means to said person personally. With the title "the 4th of July" the only things that come to mind are: BBQs, fireworks, redwhiteblue, and family/friends. I get that those are a part of CELEBRATING Independence Day, but that's not what the holiday is supposed to be ABOUT! Patriotism isn't wearing red, white, and blue or hosting a picnic. Patriotism is supporting and celebrating what, as a country, our forefathers accomplished as they sought freedom from Britain.
/rant
So, I hope you have/had a wonderful Independence Day! I personally spent a good portion of the day with my friend E, having a picnic at Rancho San Antonio and then attending her party in the evening. We biked the Stevens Creek Trail and were almost UNDER the Shoreline fireworks. That was the closest I have EVER been to the fireworks. We could see where they were shooting them off and when, occasionally, they hit the ground! Very exciting!
Well, I hope you're not too tired today from whatever celebration you partook of! Keep it classy!!!
Happy Independence Day! No, I don't say "Happy 4th of July!" To me, that is the same as saying "Happy 7th of July!" or "Happy 26th of February!" Simplifying Independence Day down to a date is a huge problem in America (in my opinion).
At least with the name Independence Day, one takes a moment to consider our independence from Britain, or at least the word independence and what it means to said person personally. With the title "the 4th of July" the only things that come to mind are: BBQs, fireworks, redwhiteblue, and family/friends. I get that those are a part of CELEBRATING Independence Day, but that's not what the holiday is supposed to be ABOUT! Patriotism isn't wearing red, white, and blue or hosting a picnic. Patriotism is supporting and celebrating what, as a country, our forefathers accomplished as they sought freedom from Britain.
/rant
So, I hope you have/had a wonderful Independence Day! I personally spent a good portion of the day with my friend E, having a picnic at Rancho San Antonio and then attending her party in the evening. We biked the Stevens Creek Trail and were almost UNDER the Shoreline fireworks. That was the closest I have EVER been to the fireworks. We could see where they were shooting them off and when, occasionally, they hit the ground! Very exciting!
Well, I hope you're not too tired today from whatever celebration you partook of! Keep it classy!!!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Reading
July 3rd:
Reading used to be my favorite pass-time, my number one hobby. That was until about junior year when I began to devote my dedicated reading hour (between 9-10 every school night) to things other than reading, such as texting, facebook, watching tv shows, ect. Although I did enjoy those activities, I slowly found that more and more I missed sitting and reading for an hour. Despite my missing it, I always seemed to have too many things to do instead of reading, so that didn't change. Luckily, I've been choosing to read more now that it's summer and I don't have anything else demanding my attention.
I'm kinda on a Sarah Dessen roll right now. I read "Lock and Key" and am now in the middle of "Along for the Ride". I wouldn't have pegged myself for reading such real life/girly books (as my regular genre is more... fantasy/adventure), but I'm really really enjoying them. Maybe reading about other people's drama is more bearable because right now I don't have any in my personal life... Haha!
I think I'll stay up as late as I can tonight reading. Maybe I'll finish the last 270 pages tonight... Or not, that's kinda a lot. Well, I can try!
Do you read a lot? What is your favorite genre? When do you put time aside to read?
Well, reading already is pretty classy, but just in case you need the reminder... Keep it classy!!
Reading used to be my favorite pass-time, my number one hobby. That was until about junior year when I began to devote my dedicated reading hour (between 9-10 every school night) to things other than reading, such as texting, facebook, watching tv shows, ect. Although I did enjoy those activities, I slowly found that more and more I missed sitting and reading for an hour. Despite my missing it, I always seemed to have too many things to do instead of reading, so that didn't change. Luckily, I've been choosing to read more now that it's summer and I don't have anything else demanding my attention.
I'm kinda on a Sarah Dessen roll right now. I read "Lock and Key" and am now in the middle of "Along for the Ride". I wouldn't have pegged myself for reading such real life/girly books (as my regular genre is more... fantasy/adventure), but I'm really really enjoying them. Maybe reading about other people's drama is more bearable because right now I don't have any in my personal life... Haha!
I think I'll stay up as late as I can tonight reading. Maybe I'll finish the last 270 pages tonight... Or not, that's kinda a lot. Well, I can try!
Do you read a lot? What is your favorite genre? When do you put time aside to read?
Well, reading already is pretty classy, but just in case you need the reminder... Keep it classy!!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
King's Teachers
July 2nd:
King's has always boasted that it has the best teachers who love each and every one of their students and want to have friendships outside of the classroom, and today I can really attest to that fact.
This morning I had breakfast with my 9th grade Bible teacher Mrs. K whom I have ALWAYS loved and looked up to. I even TA'd for her the last semester of my senior year! I always felt like she treated me like a daughter and so going to breakfast with her after graduating seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do! We ate at Hobee's, talked about King's, college, and summer, and politely fought over the check at the end of the meal. The thing was, I didn't feel at all like I was eating a meal with a teacher (albeit a former teacher). I felt like I was just out with another of my friends, chatting about life and the future like any other time. I hope that all highschool students (not only those from King's) have those sorts of mentor relationships - not only with teachers of course, but with other trustworthy adults and older friends. I am so glad that I attended a school where having a meal, going to the movies, or just hanging out with teachers outside the classroom are pretty commonplace things to do!
Thank you King's for providing me with the opportunity to get to know Mrs. K! :D
Next time you have a free day, why not consider going out to lunch with a teacher/mentor and getting to know them outside the classroom? Besides that, this week... keep it classy!!!
King's has always boasted that it has the best teachers who love each and every one of their students and want to have friendships outside of the classroom, and today I can really attest to that fact.
This morning I had breakfast with my 9th grade Bible teacher Mrs. K whom I have ALWAYS loved and looked up to. I even TA'd for her the last semester of my senior year! I always felt like she treated me like a daughter and so going to breakfast with her after graduating seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do! We ate at Hobee's, talked about King's, college, and summer, and politely fought over the check at the end of the meal. The thing was, I didn't feel at all like I was eating a meal with a teacher (albeit a former teacher). I felt like I was just out with another of my friends, chatting about life and the future like any other time. I hope that all highschool students (not only those from King's) have those sorts of mentor relationships - not only with teachers of course, but with other trustworthy adults and older friends. I am so glad that I attended a school where having a meal, going to the movies, or just hanging out with teachers outside the classroom are pretty commonplace things to do!
Thank you King's for providing me with the opportunity to get to know Mrs. K! :D
Next time you have a free day, why not consider going out to lunch with a teacher/mentor and getting to know them outside the classroom? Besides that, this week... keep it classy!!!
Kittens
July 1st:
Hello y'all! This summer (Probably August/September) I'd LOVE to volunteer at a animal shelter or something like that where I can interact with pets. Does anyone know of places to do that in the Bay Area? Preferably close to Mountain View? I've always wanted to do this, but usually they require volunteers to be 18 and before when I looked into this as an option I wasn't old enough! Contact me if you know of a place!
Also, strangely, I've noticed that after houseboats I've been waking up early, no matter when I go to sleep. I hope it stays that way, I really love the morning times!
Sorry for the short post, feeling uninspired! :) Keep it classy!
Hello y'all! This summer (Probably August/September) I'd LOVE to volunteer at a animal shelter or something like that where I can interact with pets. Does anyone know of places to do that in the Bay Area? Preferably close to Mountain View? I've always wanted to do this, but usually they require volunteers to be 18 and before when I looked into this as an option I wasn't old enough! Contact me if you know of a place!
Also, strangely, I've noticed that after houseboats I've been waking up early, no matter when I go to sleep. I hope it stays that way, I really love the morning times!
Sorry for the short post, feeling uninspired! :) Keep it classy!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Scheduling
June 30th:
Today I got some much-needed down time and managed to recharge pretty well. I took a good portion of this alone time to plan out my week (and in some events' cases, month). I want to do something every day, even if that's just lunch out with a friend. I feel like I didn't do much in June that's worth remembering, sparing a few gatherings. I want July to be different, so I'm scheduling! Yay! My super organized, square-personality side gets to shine! I already have four meals planned with friends, along with a trip to Filoli, Rancho, and the Flea Market. I am a happy camper.
I also had a little bit of time to consider last week and my thoughts about it. I've come to the conclusion that this year, for me, Houseboats was sorta just... inconsequential. I was sick for a good portion of it, which certainly lowered by opinion of the trip, but for the rest of the week I was just in a meh sort of mood. I wasn't UNHAPPY, but I wasn't really having much fun either. Luckily, I didn't have super high expectations for the week, so it wasn't a disappointment, but it's also sorta a bummer that I didn't make any truly lasting memories. I probably wouldn't remember the week at all in a year if it weren't for the pictures. I guess trips like this are hit and miss, and this was simply a miss for me. (As a disclaimer: pretty much everyone else had an amazing time, so there wasn't anything wrong with the trip itself, the problem was more with me and my circumstance/mood. Thank you Highway for organizing it and for Sunshine's houseboats and staff!)
This evening I went to see Much Ado About Nothing with my parents and our neighbor C and we all enjoyed it very much indeed. I adored that the lines were STRAIGHT for Shakespeare and that Joss Whedon (my favorite director) had so many of his favorite actors in it (who are all my favorites too, imagine that!). It was funny, but not based on Comedy, which is ideal for me, and (since I didn't know the story before seeing the movie) surprised me with the plot and irony, ect. I recommend it! One thought though: I don't think it should have been rated PG-13. Although it wasn't exactly what I would think of when I think rated R, there was one scene that I think was unnecessary and inappropriate for young teenagers. There's my two cents. :)
OH! And... keep it classy.
Today I got some much-needed down time and managed to recharge pretty well. I took a good portion of this alone time to plan out my week (and in some events' cases, month). I want to do something every day, even if that's just lunch out with a friend. I feel like I didn't do much in June that's worth remembering, sparing a few gatherings. I want July to be different, so I'm scheduling! Yay! My super organized, square-personality side gets to shine! I already have four meals planned with friends, along with a trip to Filoli, Rancho, and the Flea Market. I am a happy camper.
I also had a little bit of time to consider last week and my thoughts about it. I've come to the conclusion that this year, for me, Houseboats was sorta just... inconsequential. I was sick for a good portion of it, which certainly lowered by opinion of the trip, but for the rest of the week I was just in a meh sort of mood. I wasn't UNHAPPY, but I wasn't really having much fun either. Luckily, I didn't have super high expectations for the week, so it wasn't a disappointment, but it's also sorta a bummer that I didn't make any truly lasting memories. I probably wouldn't remember the week at all in a year if it weren't for the pictures. I guess trips like this are hit and miss, and this was simply a miss for me. (As a disclaimer: pretty much everyone else had an amazing time, so there wasn't anything wrong with the trip itself, the problem was more with me and my circumstance/mood. Thank you Highway for organizing it and for Sunshine's houseboats and staff!)
This evening I went to see Much Ado About Nothing with my parents and our neighbor C and we all enjoyed it very much indeed. I adored that the lines were STRAIGHT for Shakespeare and that Joss Whedon (my favorite director) had so many of his favorite actors in it (who are all my favorites too, imagine that!). It was funny, but not based on Comedy, which is ideal for me, and (since I didn't know the story before seeing the movie) surprised me with the plot and irony, ect. I recommend it! One thought though: I don't think it should have been rated PG-13. Although it wasn't exactly what I would think of when I think rated R, there was one scene that I think was unnecessary and inappropriate for young teenagers. There's my two cents. :)
OH! And... keep it classy.
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