Usually, when we leave my aunt's house in Pittsburgh to come back to sucky ol' Maryland, I suffer from a bout of depression. Today was no different.
I also suffer from a realization of how much I absolutely hate this state.
Not just because of the shitty school systems and the too-warm weather, but just BECAUSE.
You know when you were four years old and someone asked you something and you'd say "just because?" Yeah. It's like that.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be back in familiar surroundings, and to have one of my two lovely Pomeranians back.
Gizmo, the other one, is still boarded at the vet, because they aren't open on Sunday, and so we couldn't get him =[ He was terrified at first (My mom obviously called and checked in on him!) but then he started to warm up to the people there. I'm going to school late tomorrow just to pick him up. I miss him. He's seriously exclusively MY dog.
He loves me the mostest =]
I just hope he doesn't hate me too much ><
So I'll give you a quick rundown of my Thanksgiving holiday!! **confetti falls from sky and joyous music plays**
Thursday: The five hour journey to Pittsburgh, spent mostly blasting my iPod and singing. When we arrived, dinner was just about ready. We stayed at my aunt Ina's place, with my cousins Chris (19) and Matt (13). For dinner, my uncle Tom's brother and sister-in-law showed up, as well as my aunt Mim and her husband Danny, as well as her son Ricky. So we ate, and the table I sat at consisted of: Chris, Matt, Ricky, Tom's brother, and Danny. They talked about action movies and video games and guns, and I felt like an utter disgrace because of the overload of testosterone around me and, well, due to my feminine tendencies, I could barely partake in the conversation. My masculinity was slightly redeemed that night when me, Matt, and Danny were in the basement, Matt playing some Star Wars video game, and Danny and I had a discussion about horror/gory movies.
I guess that's one brownie point for me.
Friday: Um... nothing really. Just kinda hung out, I think. My memory of Friday isn't too great... Guess nothing really memorable happened. Except I finished the ninth Anita Blake novel :P
Saturday: We went to my aunt Mim's house for a while. My mom, Mim, and Ina (they're sisters, in case that wasn't clear) have a long-time friend named Rochelle, who came to visit them. So we just kinda hung out. That morning, I started the third House of Night novel, and finished it that same night. You must read the series. It's addictive. Slightly amateur in style, but addictive. That night, my aunt Ina and Chris went to a Penguins game - they won, woo! - and Matt had a friend come over. So me and my mom just read.
Sunday: The car ride home that should've been five hours was in actuality, seven, thanks to traffic. This was spent, once again, listening to music and reading. Honestly, the car ride up is so much better than the one back. Because, on the one back, I know I have to come home. A home I really want to get away from.
So yeah. That was my Thanksgiving holiday. I hope everyone else's was equally wonderful!!!
~J*~
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
PS:
Everyone, have a marvelous Thanksgiving. I hope the turkey - or vegitarian food? - is fabulous. Just don't eat too much!!
I'll be going to Pittsburgh, so I probably won't be blogging again until Sunday night or Monday some time. But yeah!!
Have fun!!
Be safe!!
Eat well!!
Be thankful!!
~J*~
I'll be going to Pittsburgh, so I probably won't be blogging again until Sunday night or Monday some time. But yeah!!
Have fun!!
Be safe!!
Eat well!!
Be thankful!!
~J*~
My Gratitude List
Feel free to repost your own version in your own blog.
My Gratitude List
I Am Grateful:
1) that I have a mother who can support me and that I can trust, and be myself around.
2) that I have Abby, my best friend since seventh grade, who I can tell anything to and not be judged.
3) that I have Sam, my best friend since ninth grade, who I have spent many a late night on the phone with, talking about everything and nothing, laughing till we cry.
4) that I have two dogs, Misty and Gizmo, the barky, four pound furballs that somehow know when I'm not feeling at my best and try, in their doggy ways, to cheer me up.
5) that I have my Stairway Crew, who all provide me with the energy and laughs to make it through the day.
6) that I have my iPod, which provides me with the music I need to save my sanity, or gives me the inspiration to write.
7) for my creativity with words; without it, I would be backed up with stress and anger, no way to get it out.
8) for my cell phone, which saves me from boredom at the most boring times with random text messages from friends.
9) for books - Anita Blake in particular - which have provided me with the inspiration to start taking writing even more seriously.
10) for Nikki, who I met last summer, and even though she's 600 miles away, I feel like I've known her for forever. She is like a little sister to me, and I love her. And let's not forget Paige, who always makes our phone conversations even more interesting.
11) for Ashley, my tall emangsta girl and mentor. She has provided me with so much good advice, and it has saved me from making stupid mistakes.
12) for Laurell K. Hamilton, who pops out Anita Blake books at the rate that bunnies reproduce. Seriously, these books are fabulous. Read them.
13) for Clever Girl Tia, who writes an amazing blog that I can look forward to reading every day - and usually get quite a few laughs from.
I think that about sums it up.
=]
And, of course, I love you all - whoever's reading this.
~J*~
My Gratitude List
I Am Grateful:
1) that I have a mother who can support me and that I can trust, and be myself around.
2) that I have Abby, my best friend since seventh grade, who I can tell anything to and not be judged.
3) that I have Sam, my best friend since ninth grade, who I have spent many a late night on the phone with, talking about everything and nothing, laughing till we cry.
4) that I have two dogs, Misty and Gizmo, the barky, four pound furballs that somehow know when I'm not feeling at my best and try, in their doggy ways, to cheer me up.
5) that I have my Stairway Crew, who all provide me with the energy and laughs to make it through the day.
6) that I have my iPod, which provides me with the music I need to save my sanity, or gives me the inspiration to write.
7) for my creativity with words; without it, I would be backed up with stress and anger, no way to get it out.
8) for my cell phone, which saves me from boredom at the most boring times with random text messages from friends.
9) for books - Anita Blake in particular - which have provided me with the inspiration to start taking writing even more seriously.
10) for Nikki, who I met last summer, and even though she's 600 miles away, I feel like I've known her for forever. She is like a little sister to me, and I love her. And let's not forget Paige, who always makes our phone conversations even more interesting.
11) for Ashley, my tall emangsta girl and mentor. She has provided me with so much good advice, and it has saved me from making stupid mistakes.
12) for Laurell K. Hamilton, who pops out Anita Blake books at the rate that bunnies reproduce. Seriously, these books are fabulous. Read them.
13) for Clever Girl Tia, who writes an amazing blog that I can look forward to reading every day - and usually get quite a few laughs from.
I think that about sums it up.
=]
And, of course, I love you all - whoever's reading this.
~J*~
Monday, November 24, 2008
It's Happened
I have another blog.
It was bound to happen eventually.
/addiction
http://the-writer-ive-become.blogspot.com
~J*~
It was bound to happen eventually.
/addiction
http://the-writer-ive-become.blogspot.com
~J*~
I Hate Living in an Apartment
So. I got to stay home today. So I only technically have one and a half days of school this week =D
"Why did you stay home, Joey? Bad boy, playing hooky."
NUH-UH.
Our washer is broken, and I have NO clean clothes. Maintenence was supposed to come fix it today, but they're still not here, so I may run a couple things over to Abby's in a couple hours... I dunno yet.
Yeah yeah, I should do laundry more regularly. Sue me.
So I've been reading all day, and watching TV, and having narcolepsy attacks. Just randomly sleeping, even though I slept enough. Probably some sleep debt. Yeah, we read about it in psychology.
Sleep debt - n; a result of sleep deprivation, which you "pay off" by sleeping more.
That's a rough definition. But I think I got rid of a little of that debt today.
Wheee! Hehe.
As I'm typing this, maintenence has knocked on the door, and they are now working on the washer. Yay! I get to clean clothes and go to school tomorrow - in clean clothes.
*Phew*
Weirdly, I miss school.
I know.
ODD.
I mean, I don't exactly dislike school, but at the same time, I just don't wanna go all the time. But I kinda missed it today.
Except for the test in psychology I was supposed to take.
Yikes.
I studied, though!!
Too bad my pet "lesbian" has my book.
Damn you, Sam.
~J*~
"Why did you stay home, Joey? Bad boy, playing hooky."
NUH-UH.
Our washer is broken, and I have NO clean clothes. Maintenence was supposed to come fix it today, but they're still not here, so I may run a couple things over to Abby's in a couple hours... I dunno yet.
Yeah yeah, I should do laundry more regularly. Sue me.
So I've been reading all day, and watching TV, and having narcolepsy attacks. Just randomly sleeping, even though I slept enough. Probably some sleep debt. Yeah, we read about it in psychology.
Sleep debt - n; a result of sleep deprivation, which you "pay off" by sleeping more.
That's a rough definition. But I think I got rid of a little of that debt today.
Wheee! Hehe.
As I'm typing this, maintenence has knocked on the door, and they are now working on the washer. Yay! I get to clean clothes and go to school tomorrow - in clean clothes.
*Phew*
Weirdly, I miss school.
I know.
ODD.
I mean, I don't exactly dislike school, but at the same time, I just don't wanna go all the time. But I kinda missed it today.
Except for the test in psychology I was supposed to take.
Yikes.
I studied, though!!
Too bad my pet "lesbian" has my book.
Damn you, Sam.
~J*~
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Twilight, Twilight, Twilight (I can haz review?)
I'll explain my process to you before I go further, 'kay?
I'm a die-hard movie fan - usually some form of horror or thriller, or most things with a supernatural element. Except for sci-fi. But when I see a movie, I automatically begin to mentally tear it apart and nitpick at the negative things. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I hate the movie. But I critique the hell out of it. It's rare that I find a movie I get so sucked into that I don't critique it at all. I found one today called "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon," but we'll save that for a rainy day.
In any case, most of my problems with Twilight were in the acting - and, of course, the horrid CGI, but the budget is limited. Everything else deserves nothing but praise, because over all, they did a miraculous job. So much better than I was expecting.
__________
So I'll just start with the basics: adaptation
There are slight spoilers, but nothing that'll ruin everything for you
The book and the film were not identical twins, but it is like that with every movie adapted from print-on-page to the silver screen. Harry Potter, for example. While most of those films so far have remained faithful to the books, they are never 100% similar, nor can they ever be - generally for time's sake, or because narration in films becomes bothersome.
In the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's bestselling, cliched (yet remarkably written) tale of the love between mortal and immortal beings, things were changed around, added, and taken away - mostly for time's sake, and the sake of the interest of the audience. For example, three-fifths of the novel is about Edward Cullen and Isabella (Bella) Swan falling in love. It is not until the latter two-fifths that Lorent, James, and Victoria show up and begin to cause trouble. However, in the movie, two innocent lives are lost to these three vampires.
Other than that, the adaptation was very good. Things were switched around, but it didn't affect the overall outcome of the movie.
____________
The acting
Kristen Stewart was phenominal. As soon as I read the novel, an image of the young actress - famous for Panic Room, Speak, and The Messengers. And what do you know - she is casted for the role. That made me ecstatic - she was absolutely flawless. She played the role perfectly - from the clumsiness, right down to the social issues. It is apparent that she is good at whatever theme she is acting under, and her career will definitely be a successful one. My fear, however, is that she will be best known for Bella Swan in the Twilight saga adaptation. I sincerely hope she is not done after these films are all complete.
------
Then, of course, Nikki Reed, playing the role of Rosalie. Nikki is most famous for the teen drama Thirteen, which I have yet to see. I did, however, see her in a movie called Mini's First Time, also starring Alec Baldwin. Her performance as a cold-hearted, vixen bitch was mindblowing, and she once again takes it to that same icy level with Rosalie.
------
Robert Pattinson is another story, however. Described in the book, Edward is supposed to be a gorgeous, godly creature. I guess, in his own way, Pattinson fits the bill. Everyone has their type - he's just not mine. But that was not the problem with me.
The problem was his acting.
By the end of the movie, Pattinson simply was Edward Cullen. However, I think he was simply focusing way too much on sounding American, and that was detracting from his full potential at playing the part. Obviously, playing Edward, he needed to sound "American," so not much could have been done about that. But I just think that's what was detracting from the acting itself.
------
Taylor Lautner, the boy that played Jacob, famous for... well... nothing... Well, let's just say it's apparent why he's famous for nothing. To put it nicely, his acting could use some serious work.
____________
Everyone else basically ranged from pretty good to really good on the acting scale, but, to be frank, I just don't feel like going through all of them XD
But yeahhh that about sums it up!!
=D
Go see it.
Now.
~J*~
I'm a die-hard movie fan - usually some form of horror or thriller, or most things with a supernatural element. Except for sci-fi. But when I see a movie, I automatically begin to mentally tear it apart and nitpick at the negative things. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I hate the movie. But I critique the hell out of it. It's rare that I find a movie I get so sucked into that I don't critique it at all. I found one today called "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon," but we'll save that for a rainy day.
In any case, most of my problems with Twilight were in the acting - and, of course, the horrid CGI, but the budget is limited. Everything else deserves nothing but praise, because over all, they did a miraculous job. So much better than I was expecting.
__________
So I'll just start with the basics: adaptation
There are slight spoilers, but nothing that'll ruin everything for you
The book and the film were not identical twins, but it is like that with every movie adapted from print-on-page to the silver screen. Harry Potter, for example. While most of those films so far have remained faithful to the books, they are never 100% similar, nor can they ever be - generally for time's sake, or because narration in films becomes bothersome.
In the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's bestselling, cliched (yet remarkably written) tale of the love between mortal and immortal beings, things were changed around, added, and taken away - mostly for time's sake, and the sake of the interest of the audience. For example, three-fifths of the novel is about Edward Cullen and Isabella (Bella) Swan falling in love. It is not until the latter two-fifths that Lorent, James, and Victoria show up and begin to cause trouble. However, in the movie, two innocent lives are lost to these three vampires.
Other than that, the adaptation was very good. Things were switched around, but it didn't affect the overall outcome of the movie.
____________
The acting
Kristen Stewart was phenominal. As soon as I read the novel, an image of the young actress - famous for Panic Room, Speak, and The Messengers. And what do you know - she is casted for the role. That made me ecstatic - she was absolutely flawless. She played the role perfectly - from the clumsiness, right down to the social issues. It is apparent that she is good at whatever theme she is acting under, and her career will definitely be a successful one. My fear, however, is that she will be best known for Bella Swan in the Twilight saga adaptation. I sincerely hope she is not done after these films are all complete.
------
Then, of course, Nikki Reed, playing the role of Rosalie. Nikki is most famous for the teen drama Thirteen, which I have yet to see. I did, however, see her in a movie called Mini's First Time, also starring Alec Baldwin. Her performance as a cold-hearted, vixen bitch was mindblowing, and she once again takes it to that same icy level with Rosalie.
------
Robert Pattinson is another story, however. Described in the book, Edward is supposed to be a gorgeous, godly creature. I guess, in his own way, Pattinson fits the bill. Everyone has their type - he's just not mine. But that was not the problem with me.
The problem was his acting.
By the end of the movie, Pattinson simply was Edward Cullen. However, I think he was simply focusing way too much on sounding American, and that was detracting from his full potential at playing the part. Obviously, playing Edward, he needed to sound "American," so not much could have been done about that. But I just think that's what was detracting from the acting itself.
------
Taylor Lautner, the boy that played Jacob, famous for... well... nothing... Well, let's just say it's apparent why he's famous for nothing. To put it nicely, his acting could use some serious work.
____________
Everyone else basically ranged from pretty good to really good on the acting scale, but, to be frank, I just don't feel like going through all of them XD
But yeahhh that about sums it up!!
=D
Go see it.
Now.
~J*~
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monster and Bank Robberies... Say What?
I had three doses of caffiene today.
My heart hurt.
Is that a bad thing?
I had a cup of coffee this morning and a Snickers "Blasted" bar... or something to that effect. Basically a Snickers bar with caffiene and taurine. Then a can of Monster.
God.
I love Monster.
Seriously, if you haven't had it, go buy a can at your nearest convenience store slash supermarket. 'Gasmic. Preferably green or red ("Assault.") The blue is basically just "diet," and orange ("Khaos") is somewhat of an aquired taste, as is yellow ("M-80"), because they're both juice blends. As is the purple ("MIXX'D"), but really, that just tastes like grape soda. Then there are the coffee flavors.
Mmmmm.
I can haz mocha flavor, plz?
Wow, I just spent like, so long talking about M O N S T E R. But it's just that amazing.
Anyway.
So I live in an eastern state. And in this eastern state there is a town of about 7,500 people with not-exactly-defined "city limits." It's quite a small town, depending on what you think the limits are. But anyway.
In our extended fifth period, my friend Laura texted me.
"be careful going home!"
My response: "Why?"
"someone robbed a bank in *****ville and now they're in *******ville (my town) and they're armed."
Basically, it was all over the news. There were three suspects, and they shot one down and killed him, and they found the second and they think they know where the third is. So yeah.
But it was a really big deal. My high school isn't in my town, so it wasn't affected too bad, but basically the kids that live in the general area where they thought the guy was had to go to this middle school in the area - my middle school, no less. My BFF main girl Abby goes to a high school not far from the middle school, so she was on lockdown. But they eventually let everyone go home.
Good thing I stayed after school ><
I'm terrified. In like, two weeks or less, we have that performance in the Shakespeare Theater in DC, and gahhh I'm going to die. We had rehearsal today after school - my theater class is seventh period, so that was convenient - and just... I mean, it's slowly coming together, but the guy that I'm doing the scene with isn't the brightest bulb in the tanning bed (Juno reference :3), and like... I dunno, I'm just really nervous.
GAH.
=[
I want to back out, but I think it's too late.
FUDGENUTTERS.
~J*~
PS: I really need material for my advice blog. It's so neglected =[ **hugs blog**
kthnxguys
My heart hurt.
Is that a bad thing?
I had a cup of coffee this morning and a Snickers "Blasted" bar... or something to that effect. Basically a Snickers bar with caffiene and taurine. Then a can of Monster.
God.
I love Monster.
Seriously, if you haven't had it, go buy a can at your nearest convenience store slash supermarket. 'Gasmic. Preferably green or red ("Assault.") The blue is basically just "diet," and orange ("Khaos") is somewhat of an aquired taste, as is yellow ("M-80"), because they're both juice blends. As is the purple ("MIXX'D"), but really, that just tastes like grape soda. Then there are the coffee flavors.
Mmmmm.
I can haz mocha flavor, plz?
Wow, I just spent like, so long talking about M O N S T E R. But it's just that amazing.
Anyway.
So I live in an eastern state. And in this eastern state there is a town of about 7,500 people with not-exactly-defined "city limits." It's quite a small town, depending on what you think the limits are. But anyway.
In our extended fifth period, my friend Laura texted me.
"be careful going home!"
My response: "Why?"
"someone robbed a bank in *****ville and now they're in *******ville (my town) and they're armed."
Basically, it was all over the news. There were three suspects, and they shot one down and killed him, and they found the second and they think they know where the third is. So yeah.
But it was a really big deal. My high school isn't in my town, so it wasn't affected too bad, but basically the kids that live in the general area where they thought the guy was had to go to this middle school in the area - my middle school, no less. My BFF main girl Abby goes to a high school not far from the middle school, so she was on lockdown. But they eventually let everyone go home.
Good thing I stayed after school ><
I'm terrified. In like, two weeks or less, we have that performance in the Shakespeare Theater in DC, and gahhh I'm going to die. We had rehearsal today after school - my theater class is seventh period, so that was convenient - and just... I mean, it's slowly coming together, but the guy that I'm doing the scene with isn't the brightest bulb in the tanning bed (Juno reference :3), and like... I dunno, I'm just really nervous.
GAH.
=[
I want to back out, but I think it's too late.
FUDGENUTTERS.
~J*~
PS: I really need material for my advice blog. It's so neglected =[ **hugs blog**
kthnxguys
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