Bits of Randomness-45 Things About Me

And now, 45 things about me, that you don't care about. (found the original list on a friend's blog) I haven't posted in a long time, due to summer camp, being sick and a million other things. So, enjoy the randomness and the intelligence will be back soon.





• 1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? NO. That stuff is disgusting. My brother calls it toe jam. Ten-year-old humor.

• 2. Favorite late night snack? Practically anything chocolate.
• 3. Do you own a gun? Um...no. Why would I?
• 4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? Anything non-coffee, and chocolatey.
• 5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Extremely. I have a phobia of needles. I also don't like dentist or orthodontic appointments. Orthodontists are evil. So says me.

• 6. What do you think of hot dogs? The food? Depends on the brand, and how they're cooked, but they're not my favorite.
• 7. Favorite Christmas song? Hrm... I'm not sure. Ask me again in December.


• 8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water. Anything with too much sugar makes me feel horrible.
• 9. Can you do push-ups? Can I? Sort of...Will I? No.
• 10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? The necklace that I got for my birthday. It has a starfish (from this story) on it and a puzzle piece (for autism research)
• 11. Favorite hobby? Reading. Or maybe writing. Or maybe playing piano.
• 12. Do you have A.D.D.? No, whatever makes you think that...ooh, look, a squirrel doing pull ups!
• 13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? My introverted self. You can't change the world when you're standing in a corner.
• 14. The last disease you contracted? Some kind of weird cold/flu thing at summer camp, nicknamed 'hecka epic disease'. It's a long story.
• 15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. These are really random questions. I should probably be doing something more productive. I have a million other things to do right now.
• 16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, water, lemonade (or some other kind of fruitish juice)
• 17. Current worry right now? That I'll crash and burn in my class, which starts the third week of September. The class is actually three classes: English, History, and Bible. There are a lot of huge writing assignments, and it will actually be a challenge for me. And, that I won't finish my other schoolwork, because I'm too busy with my class. I worry a lot. Can you tell?
• 18. Current hate right now? The show my siblings are watching Wow, Wow, Wubzy. I want it to go away. Now. I can feel my brain cells dying.
• 19. Favorite place to be? Library, curled up with a book. It's quiet, small and peaceful. Or somewhere nature-y.
• 20. How did you ring in the New Year? Um...I think I went to bed.
• 21. Like to travel? Not really, but I haven't been on a plane since before first grade, so all I know are church trips with a million of us piled into a van. Fun, fun.
• 22. Name three people who will complete this: I don't know. Me, the friend who posted this originally, and someone else?
• 23. Do you own slippers? Nope. At least, not during the summer.
• 24. What color shirt are you wearing? Deep purple. Polo. It's comfy.
• 25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I'm actually not sure about this one, having never slept on satin sheets before. I like cotton, though...
• 26. Can you whistle? No. I used to be able to, but now, with braces, I can't.
• 27. Favorite singer/band? I love Tenth Avenue North, and have been listening to a lot of Remedy Drive lately. (both amazing Christian bands)
• 28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor? No. Probably not even 39 seconds.
• 29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Hey! That's a loaded question. For your information, I don't sing in the shower...honest! I hum. And maybe sing. A little.
• 30. Favorite girl’s names? I don't know.
• 31. Favorite boy’s name? Repeat: I don't know. Why the single name in this question? Are you trying to get me to disclose a crush?
• 32. What’s in your pocket right now? Don't have pockets in the skirt I'm wearing.
• 33. Last thing that made you laugh? The cartoon on Disney Channel, Phineas and Ferb. We watch it as a family. Anything with a secret agent platypus is worth watching.
• 34. Like your job? It's definitely a challenge. Student, daughter, older sister, friend, Rebelutionary, the list goes on. But yeah, I do.
• 36. Do you love where you live? Yes. Except the sharing a room with my seven-year-old sister. I could do without that.
• 37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two.
• 38. Who is your loudest friend? That's a tough one, I really don't know.
• 39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed? I don't drive. Yet. But I would definitely drive the speed limit.
• 40. Does someone have a crush on you? Why on earth would I tell you that?

• 41. What is your favorite book? That's a tough one. Favorite fiction book is probably The Princess and the Hound.
• 42. What is your favorite candy? Almond Joy. Yum. And, it's not manufactured by Mars Candy Co, who I'm boycotting, so double yum.



• 43. Favorite Sports Team? Really don't care about sports. I've gone to see the U.S Womans Soccer Team with my grandparents...
• 44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping! Whoever wrote this is a creepy stalker. And better not be Edward Cullen. Who is just weird.
• 45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today? "I wanna go back to sleep."




















 









The Verdict is In...And I'm a Loon!

Take a theater full of excited people, a highly anticipated fantasy movie, add in some "magic" and what is the result? The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince midnight premiere. Scheduled to start Wednesday morning at 12:01, there were already over thirty people in line when we (this loon, who happens to be the one who gave me my geeky DNA, and I) arrived at 6:30. Once settled in line, the only thing to do was wait.

And wait we did. We waited while people walked in, wearing full Hogwarts robes. Others took the "cool teen look" wearing distressed t-shirts proclaiming Slytherin and Gryffindor. Still others came dressed as Muggles, the non-magic population, us included. As we waited through the same five songs, (some Miley Cyrus song, some other Miley Cyrus song, something inaudible and a push for the Harry Potter soundtrack, complete with one song), we buried ourselves in books. Me: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince( not quite sure why I brought the book to the movie, but it was nice and thick, and took me a while to read), Over Sea, Under Stone and Sense and Sensibility. Him: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

Around 9:15, we were ushered into the theater, where the captive audience was shown the same seven trivia slides over and over and over again, and some advertisements. But, of course, that was much too boring. So, some extremely devoted fans decided to provide entertainment. Pulling out their wands, they proceeded to duel, even using the words from the books. When one of the duelers "died", the whole theater burst into applause. Ahh, opening night.

As the minutes ticked by, the excitement was rising. When the previews came on, the sound of ecstatic screams and applause were deafening. As the captive audience watched the Twilight: New Moon preview, showing Robert Pattinson (Edward) more screaming filled the theater (along with a hearty "boooo" from the male portion of the audience). When a shirtless Taylor Lautner (Jacob, the other heartthrob) came onscreen, the goofy person next to me (yes, Him) yelled "Sharkboy!". Next time I see that preview, I'm going to get everyone around me to yell "Cedric! You're alive!" when Pattinson comes onscreen.

Warning, potential spoilers ahead...

As the color palette seen in the previews for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince warns, this is a dark movie. The series has gone from cute supposed-to-be-eleven-year-olds-but-actually-nine-year-olds being cute, to a tense, who's-going-to-die-can't-trust-anyone-nowhere-is-safe atmosphere. Still, mixed in with that is some very sweet, humorous scenes. One of my favorites was the "Chosen One" scene with Harry and Hermione:

Hermione(seeing Romilda Vane looking at Harry):

Hey! She's only looking at you because she thinks you're the "Chosen One"

Harry: But I am the chosen one.

Hermione whacks Harry in the head with a rolled up parchment(or something similar)

Harry: Sorry...kidding.

The scene between Lavender Brown and Hermione, after Ron's been poisoned is really good too, summing up that triangle well.

Lavender, seeing Hermione by Ron's bed in the hospital: What is she doing here!?

Hermione: I might ask you the same question.

Lavender, indignantly: I happen to be his girlfriend!

Hermione: I happen to be his...friend.

The filmmakers did an excellent job adapting the book. They made changes, but mostly they were done well. But the great big battle at the end was cut, and I hated the part with the Muggle waitress. The opening scene is unnerving, showing the bad bad bad guys collapsing a bridge which kills Muggles (non-magic people), but again, it contributes to the tense, who's-going-to-die-can't-trust-anyone-nowhere-is-safe atmosphere.

All in all, it was a magical couple of hours, setting the scene for the last two movies (they're doing two, 'cause the book is too long). Now I have to go and see it in IMAX3D.

Attention Germs/Viruses/Other Obnoxious Organisms: I Hate You. That is All.

Yes, that's right. The flu has invaded our house. Fun. First, it was my mom, then dad, then both siblings. I refuse to get sick, until Wednesday, late afternoon. Then I don't care. Why Tuesday?

Despite my initial annoyance, I will be going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at midnight on Tuesday,

(*begin note that nobody will read* Technically, my annoyance was at the fact that WB made a non-kids movie a PG rating. Being fifteen, I would've gone to see it even if it had been PG-13. In fact, I've been longing to see it (read: obsessing over it) since last July, thinking that November couldn't come soon enough. I was really mad at WB for a while, after they pushed it till July 2009. *end note*)

with this guy. (Yes, he's my father. I won't deny it, my geekiness has got to come from somewhere. Right? Of course right).

(You can click to enlarge the picture to read the text, and if you're too non-geeky, the quote is from Bone. The protagonist (Bone) jumps on a little branch, commenting "Those rat creatures would have to be really stupid to jump on this little branch." The next panel shows the creatures jumping, and the protagonist yells "Stupid, stupid rat creatures!" as they fall. These are the same rat creatures who proclaim that quiche is an old-lady food, not monster food. It's a really cute graphic novel, and worth a read. Aren't they adorable? And don't get me started on Bartleby, the baby rat creature. Say it with me...Squee!)

amazing picture of petri dish, creative commons, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, via flickr

Happy...Fifth... of July?

All right, all right, I know it's a day late but you have to watch this. Now. Many times. Until it is stuck in your head. Then follow the advice at the end, maybe. Stop reading this and watch it. Now. Did you watch it? Good. Now you may leave. Nothing more to see here.

Then Buffy Staked Edward.The End.Hooray.

I must admit, for a while, I was caught up in the "Twilight fever". I liked Edward because, unlike most stupid teen heartthrobs, he wasn't shallow. So I wasn't happy when the movie came out, and Twilight became "Forks Washington, 98331" and Edward became a stupid, shallow heartthrob. In addition, the acting was wooden, the makeup horrible, and the stunts/special effects laughable. So for all of us that hated the movie, Edward finally gets his comeuppance.

Enjoy!

The one thing that I want to know though, is when does Bella get her turn? Her acting was horrible, worse than Edward's.

And to all the Twilight fans who proclaim "OMG! He is sooooooooo hot!" I now reply "OMG, are you twelve?"

Edit 1: And you thought Robert Pattinson was shallow? He got hit by a cab, while he was running from fans. (He's not seriously hurt.) See?

Edit 2: And apparently Google is obsessed too, because this is what came up after the blog post published successfully. Blech!

The Branch and the Clay

(Begin shameless mention of new blog) I recently started another blog, with a more serious focus. The Branch and The Clay, a chronicle of my life as a follower of Jesus Christ, named after the comparisons that are made, between us and God. There's no monkeys, there might be some logic, but I'm not sure if flying will come into it. (We now return to the regularly scheduled blogging)

Really, Warner Brothers?!?

My rant in the style of "Really?!? with Seth and Amy" from Saturday Night Live. Be warned that it contains spoilers from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This is what I've determined from the book and the previews.

Today I found out that the upcoming Warner Brothers film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be rated PG. The last few films have been PG-13. I don't agree. Why, you ask...

Really, Warner Brothers?!? You think that a bridge being destroyed in the first few minutes of a film is family-friendly?

Really?!?

And you know, sending the really-bad-murderous-bad guys to a main character's house to destroy it (which isn't even in the book) is appropriate for children.

Really?!?

You think that a character touching a cursed necklace, flying up in the air, screaming, almost dying, and being in the hospital for weeks is PG?

Really?!?

You think that a lake full of dead bodies, which then become reanimated and try to stop the main characters from proceeding is PG? (not cute zombies either, the Inferi freaked me, a fifteen year old, out when I read the book, it will be scarier visually)

Really?!?

You think that a character consuming poisoned drink and almost dying is PG?

Really?!? Huh.

And a very important character being murdered by a supposed good guy and falling off of a tower is PG?

Really?!?

Plus there's the new angst/romance stuff, and the fact that two characters are practically glued together by the lips. Huh.

So...

Really, Warner Brothers? Really?!?

(Add to that the fact that Warner Brothers won't share their stuff online, they don't have a way to embed video. They don't understand that the internet is probably the fastest and most efficient way to spread media. Grrr. Really, Warner Brothers? You can't play nice with everyone? Really?!?)

Plus, now when I go see it (at midnight, the first showing!), it will be interrupted by little kids crying 'cause they're scared. Grrr.

Pretty Angsty Classic Vampires? or Whatever Happened to Good Books?

A couple of years ago, you could go into a bookstore or a library and find good teen books, books that were past the kid stage and not quite to the adult stage. Not anymore. There some good books, but two kinds of books make up the majority of teen books: the clique novels and the vampire spinoffs.

Clique novels: books about cliques (Never ever would have guessed!), normally revolves around high schoolers at a private school, angst, romance, drama, revenge, fashion, girl hates guy, then falls in love (you get the idea)

Vampire Spinoffs: follow a basic plot, vampire falls in love with human, fueled heavily by the success of Twilight (if you've never heard of Twilight, you were probably living under a rock for the past year) waaaay too many, again, angst and drama.

Though the teen section has been taken over by angsty (yes, I know that's not a word) books, there are still good books to be found. Here are some of my favorites:

Fantasy:

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison: mixes fantasy with magic, with a tiny bit of romance, mystery, and adventure. (The sequel, The Princess and the Bear came out very recently)

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale: one of my absolute favorites, Princess Academy and Enna Burning are good too.

The Chrestomanci Chronicles by Diana Wynn Jones: written very well, shows the hidden 'magic' side of Europe(like Harry Potter in that respect, but much better)

Science Fiction:

The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey: a very long series, like Eragon, but first and better.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: though it has some language and 'battle simulation' it presents some interesting points to ponder.

The Uglies, The Pretties, The Specials, and The Extras by Scott Westerfield: a post-apocalyptic series, can be a little preachy about what the Rusties (us) did wrong, but pretty good.

Classics:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Read it. There's not much else to say.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: Same here.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens: And here.

Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll: though they seem like 'kid' books, Lewis infuses them with logic and puzzles, which I didn't notice until I took logic this year.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: yes, it was long, and the authority figures infuriated me in their treatment of the main characters, but it is superbly written.

So, what about you? Do you agree with the way that 'teen' books are changing? Any great books I forgot?

photo of old book, flickr, cc v.max1978

Canada...Caanan...Egypt...Same Difference?

As JBean (my 7 year old sister) and I were listening to the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(after watching this, I must add.) the narrator mentioned that Joseph was sent as a slave to Egypt.

JBean:"I thought Joseph already lived in Egypt?"

Me:"No, he lived in Caanan."

JBean:"Canada?"

Me:"No...Caanan...Nevermind."

So...yeah. That's what happens when I get her into Broadway.

I'm bored or The Undead Bookworm

Today, I'm bored. I've read all my library books and practically every other book in the house (except this one, this one and this one cause they're horrible, or so I've heard). So, in between asking to go to the library (which we will later, yay!) and complaining that I'm bored, I've found a new activity, which really bothers my siblings (muahahahahahahaha!) Using my best zombie imitation, I walk around and mutter "Booooooooks" in the same way that a zombie mutters "Braaaaaaaains". It's actually quite entertaining. So...I leave you with that. "Booooooooooooks"

And the urgh moment of the day is....

While doing my homework (which is due tomorrow, ok, I procrastinate) my file was deleted. ::insert ominous music here:: It got replaced with a blank document by accident (part user error, part MacFail). So...now I feel like doing this*: Don't you feel sorry for me? *I must admit, an Eeyorish character smashing a computer would be so funny that I wouldn't be mad anymore.

I'm here...and so are you apparently

After much pestering by certain people (you know who you are!) I finally have a blog and email. Unknown to many that is a "requirement of being fifteen". Yeah, sure. Fine. I'm keeping this private for a while, maybe forever, I don't know yet. Anyway, I'm here. Yippee. By the way, talking like Eeyore is another requirement of being fifteen... So, thanks for noticing.