The Great Beginning

Biggest project of the year for C and I has just begun. Great Gatsby musicals! Our group is pretty good. KK is in it. God know's she'll be a horrible actress. There are a couple people in our group that won't be able to act AT ALL. It's rather unfortunate. We have one singer, which is good, especially since it's the singer we wanted haha.
We don't actually know who will be playing who yet, or what part of the book we have (or do we have the middle because we were group two? I don't know). I'm not sure what we'll do about costumes because we can't expect everyone to go out and buy new clothes for this project. And even aside from that, I certainly don't want to spend time out in Seattle at Redlight or value village looking for costumes with certain group members...Well at least 20's style flapper dresses aren't that hard to find...and those hats that they wore are coming back in style too (not that I've seen them anywhere besides UO or UA...
I'm looking forward to it though, it's going to be a lot of fun if we do it right. Not so happy about having to learn lines again, though.

Speaking of acting, S's thing is happening next weekend!I helped edit her script and it looks pretty good! You's better give me a large part, S.

Last Tuesday I skipped three classes to help out with some of the Youth Eastside Service panels going on at my school, and one of them was SO TERRIBLE, haha. It was mostly bad because we made a few mistakes at the beginning (we forgot to give the typical disclaimer where we just say that this is a good opportunity for them to ask any questions they want, they don't have to worry about being politically correct or offending anyone, blah blah), so people didn't really feel at ease. But also, the whole front row of kids in the class were REALLY not feeling it. I'll have to tell you guys about it in person or on the phone because there's too much to write here, but it was pretty bad haha.

Also, we had the performing arts assembly yesterday, and J, Jules did a song with his girlfriend and they SUCKED. It's weird because they're both good singers, but it was really horrible. One of my friends performed a Beatles song and she was much better.

I love Dragonette!

Unicorns Always Give 100%

I believe Olympic athletes are unicorns. Or at least they seem to abide by number eight in the Unicorn Code.

So how were the Olympics, you may ask? Completely incredible. Seriously, one of the coolest experiences of my entire life. The energy up there is electrifying--there are so many people from ALL over the world, and they're all crazy about their team, dressed up with faces painted, holding signs. And because my dad is a pretty important official, we get "backstage passes" and free tickets and awesome opportunities. For example, one night we went out and were eating with the judges and I was chatting it up with the French judge and she gave me two tickets to go see ice dancing--my favorite of any Olympic (summer or winter) event!

The events I saw were Women's Aerials (those ladies are stunning, seriously, they get AIR and FLIP AROUND and stuff. Which is the point, I guess, but I was like whoa), ski cross (so exciting to watch), and ice dancing.

Oh yeah, and tomorrow we're going up one last time to see the closing ceremonies!

Who knows if I'll ever go to the Olympics again, you know? But I have so many memories from that weekend. Here, let me share a few pictures...

we always had great seats, since they were technically for "family and friends" of the athletes

I've gotta learn how to do that

me showing off my olympic spirit

well found he liked vancouver pretty well

In other news, I have watched way more Doctor Who in the past 12 hours than is probably healthy...and I am completely loving it! I'm only four episodes into season two, but I thought the season one finale was extraordinary, especially the end. I was scared I was going to hate season two because of the new doctor but oh my god I love David Tennant! Now I'm scared I'm going to hate season four because I love him so much! I'm just afraid that from here, the next step is to wrap up Doctor Who and get hooked to Torchwood, since I'm a pretty humongous fan of Captain Jack as well.

Sorry, random geek fest. But I'm so buying this poster.

all photos from bear, other than the photos from the olympics which were taken by moi

Your Choices

And you have your choices -

these are what make man great
his ladder to the stars

Mumford & Sons, Timshel

Today, 16 February 2010, the Secret Project has begun.

None of you know what this is right now, but one if you will in a few days's time. The first recipient is obligated to pass on the Project to the remaining Katrina members - anyone beyond that is up to you.

The Rules:
1. You must include these rules when you pass the Project on so that people will know what to do.
2. You can not discuss the Project with anyone outside of it.
3. You should pass it on to at least two people. These people can be anyone, from anywhere.
4. At least three random, funny, or meaningful things must be included with the Project.
5. You may pass the Project as many times as you want, with any amount of time in-between.
6. The Project is not a chain - it is an attempt to promote meaningful communication and make people happy.

Let the games begin!

Will you be my valentine?

Like A, I am looking forward to seeing the lovely Florence in April. I have a feeling that it her show will have great energy--although her live stuff seems to be a whole lot less polished when it's live (which, I suppose, is typical).

In response to J's question, I would have to say I believe in true love. I mean, I agree that you have to work to make it last, but I don't think that's it's fake. I mean, you have to water a flower to make it grow--but it's still a flower (god, that was cheesy). I also think, though, that "true love" doesn't have to last--it's still love only if it last for a year. There's two types of love--the love you have for family and friends, then there's being "in love." For something that lasts I think you need both. I'm sure my view will change, but I believe in true love--I don't think, though, that everyone finds it. I just hope I'm one of the lucky ones--and that all of you guys are too. I was talking about this the other day--well kind of. I was talking to a man in the meat department at the grocery store where I work. We were talking about how a knew an elderly couple who come in frequently who are also my neighbors who I love like grandparents. He was saying how he thinks they are amazing, lucky, and so sweet. They are both in their mid eighties, married sixty years, and still head over heels in love--hold and hand and skip, in love. They're amazing people--they've lived all over the world, one's a spectacular artist, and the other one plays blues harmonica. I'm sure, though, that they've had their conflicts and have tough parts in their lives--but they're still together. I don't know, maybe love flows like tides and comes and goes--but I think it can be found.

I worked today, though, and it was Valentine's day madness. The floral department was about three times as big as normal and everyone was buying cards, flowers, and sweets. It was all a bit sad for me, having no one, but I was also a little glad I wasn't in any of the relationships. I mean--I bagged so many thirty dollar bouquets of baby's breath and slightly wilty red roses (probably from Columbia) wrapped in plastic. I only bagged two sun flowers (what I would have chosen). It was all too consumer oriented for me--not as sincere. Except for a few people--one (actually, I think it was the butcher) who said he'd bought his wife this bike she had really wanted. I thought that doing that was just so sweet. Plus, there were allot of kids in there with their dads--and that's always nice (little kids buying balloons for mom).

Chocolat--one of my favorite romantic stories

I haven't seen Dear John, yet, so I would very much like to go this week if any/all of you are up for it. Also, I think I'm busy on Sunday around dinner time--but I'll call one of you in the morning. I was under the impression that A, J, and I may being do something on Monday--I'm free until around 2:00 and then after 6:00. We should try to get all four of us together sometime this weekend (but I don't know if that's possible).

Oh, and, before I forget--I still can't post. Plus, how do you place videos in a post?

I feel, although I have some more updates, that my post is becoming a bit long. So long for now.
Loves,
-S

Florence!

Florence and the Machine! It's gonna be awesome.

I haven't updated in SO long, so I have a bunch of stuff to say!

So first of all, the project that Caboose was so excited about (making a mobile for our english teacher's baby) was totally ruined by C's arch rival KK, who not only stole her project, but did it in kind of a lame way. Her mobile was pretty ugly, but our teacher still loved it and told the rest of the class that we should be so inventive. I mean seriously, it was sooo funny (read: horrible). Like this is just the sort of thing KK WOULD do. And C was so mad, it was a great moment. But Caboose has another really good idea, so all is well. And hopefully she'll be writing to Mr. Crow about it later next week.

Beauty and the Beast was great! Although I didn't think Birdie was so hot. He was a good actor though, and he was really funny. It was too bad though because I thought Lafou upstaged him a bit (if only because I think the guy who played Lafou was more suited to his part than Birdie was to his). We saw so many people from Comm school there, it was weird.

Okay so am I write in thinking that we're meeting tomorrow for baby stuff at C's house? Times? I'm guessing you'll probably be busy all day, J, but if you can swing it you should stop by.

I wish we could go see movies, but that costs money....

Ahh, and there was also Tolo, which I don't think I've talked to anyone about! We didn't actually go to the dance, just hung out at my friend's house. I think there was like fifteen people maybe? I'm not sure, I left at like 9:30 ( got there at 4:30). They had really cute dogs! All we really did was make dinner, have food fights, play pool, and zombie video games. Well, that's all I did, but I left at 9:30. The next day I heard there had been some making out going on later in the night haha, I wish I had seen it because it was between two people I NEVER would have expected.

I've just recently started to get A LOT of college letters.

And oh yeah, I really miss the summer.



P.S. I'll probably be updating this post later as I remember the rest of the things I had to tell you guys.....

The B Side to Your A Side

So why the lovely ladies?

Because I am so envious of their hair! I wish mine was that long! Ugh, and I have so long to wait. If I'm lucky, it will be reaching that point at the end of senior year. Ah well, I am patient.

So mid-winter break has officially started for me, although it hasn't exactly been an "off-with-a-bang" kind of situation, really. Last night was pretty lazy--I went and watched the opening ceremonies at Tom's house (my opinion on the ceremony: I loved the orcas, but was confused by the plaid riverdancing fiddle guys). There was some VERY notable oo-er action later that I need to tell y'all about, as well ;)

I am so excited for the games!
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, which I am obviously spending with Tom. But I wanted to give you guys a little something. The young lad above is specifically for C (I hope you like him! He reminded me of you) but don't despair, A and S, I have a whole archive for you. Open up this website and rejoice in knowing that Singles Awareness Day doesn't come every year :)

What, you may ask, am I planning to do on Valentine's Day? No idea. Not a clue. Tom, apparently, has been asking my friends what I am planning (I'm supposed to plan something?) but every time I try to bring it up with him he changes the subject. Ugh! Boys boys boys.


I want to watch ridiculously romantic movies now. My favorites movie couples include those in Titanic, 500 Days of Summer, 10 Things I Hate About You, Pretty and Pink (Duckie, not that other loser) and, of course, The Notebook. God, my chest gets all tight whenever Noah and Allie interact. Ah! They're so adorable! S, did you ever see Dear John? Maybe you, C, A if he want to, and I should take a trip to the movies and see it?

Speaking of romance, I was talking to my mom yesterday--and she told me love doesn't exist. And before you get all up in arms, it wasn't actually that blasphemous and she had an interesting point. She said that it takes a strong conscious decision to stay in love, or stay out of love. It sort of brought up another topic that I'm always switching sides on--fate, or free will in terms of relationships and love? What are your opinions?

My last question (after best movie couple, free will or fate, can we see dear john together and whatever else I asked y'all in this post) is...what is the best love song? I had a tricky time trying to even narrow it down. The song I want to dance to at my wedding is 'Octopus's Garden' by the Beatles, and other than that it changes depending on my mood.

My vote today goes to this Dylan song (he is quite fit, isn't he S?)

She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
"I thought you'd never say hello," she said
"You look like the silent type."
Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the thirteenth century.
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burnin' coal
Pourin' off of every page
Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
Tangled up in blue.

Where I Want to Go

I don't know where I am

I don't know where I've been

But I know where I want to go,

so I thought I'd let you know

That these things take forever

and I especially am slow

But I realized that I need you

Bright Eyes, The First Day of My Life

Next year I need to get in the rest of my "occupational" credits, and when I met with my counselor that seemed like one of the most tedious parts of my Senior Year schedule. She asked me about college and what I hoped to major in and immediately said, "Did you know we have a community volunteer class? You help out in classrooms in the community and get credit for it - I don't know why you couldn't just help out in the ELL classroom right here!"

While being an ELL teacher in the States insn't exactly my ideal job, it's far closer than any other classes that would count for this credit. Teaching English as a foreign language in a foreign country is what I hope to do with my life, and helping in the ELL room will hopefully reinforce that dream! And if it doesn't, I guess I know what I don't want to do with my life... So I'm crossing my fingers that the ELL teacher will let me help out next year!

I've also been thinking about all the cool stuff we used to do together. Faith is in the movie-making class at her school this year and they're finishing up their first project and transitioning into their first live-action video: a music video.

Do you remember our first music video? I don't even know if anyone has it any more, but it was fantastic. The absolutely literal translation of "YMCA" was hilarious and we even got that guy working at the YMCA desk to participate... good times. Today I watched my copy of our video for "Mine's Not A High Horse" by the Shins and was pleasantly surprised by its quality; it was a lot better than I was expecting. Annoyingly, I thought I had a copy of our "Bike" video, but I couldn't find it.

Last summer we meant to make a video for "Your English is Good" by Tokyo Police Club and never got around to it, and since then there have been countless songs I've thought up stories for or just thought would be fun to do videos with. I feel that we sould get back into this habit of making movies. With S's project I see this as something we could bring back... anyone with me?

Remember the good times, the costumes, the I-don't-know-if-that-was-a-costumes!

I've got a three-point-five hour stint at the House tomorrow, including open-mic. I'm planning on reading something I wrote last month after Olive died, but maybe I'll write something amazing during Write Time beforehand.
I've also been informed by my mother that my church is having a Pancake and Open Mic Night (I personally don't see how those go together, plus I'm not a fan of pancakes unless they are of the buckwheat variety) and she took the liberty of signing me up while I was at home reading Pride and Prejudice for nine hours.

So that should be filled with brilliant works of literary merit... maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'll let you know how it goes.

This coming Monday I'm going with my good friend Natalia to the Olympic Sculpture Park. If I had a camera of my own I would say I'd return with pictures for this blog, but I don't. So I won't! It will be really fun, though, because I haven't seen her since July when we went to the mall together and she was badgered by Evangelists. I still have the birthday present I made for her back in October, so I'm going to bring that along. And I will finally get the USB that belongs to some guy at school so I can give it back to him - Natalia has had it since last spring and somehow I am the only connection to her at school. It will be good to get that albatross out of here...

Can't wait to see some of you this weekend!

Aaron the Tortoise

This past week has been busy, but I'm looking forward to the mid winter break--when I will then be busy with film stuff which is way better than math (but still time consuming). Since all of you are going to be busy during mid winter break (J heading off to Canada to do Olympic stuff and C and A in school) I decided to leave the state. I'm going to Portland to visit my Aunt, but it's over the state line--so it counts.

Downtown Portland

I'm taking the train and leaving Thursday morning and then coming back Saturday night (so A, I kept to my promise and changed the date so I could go see you and C--I thought we were working on that baby project for your english teacher, and what I mean is I'm going a week from this Thursday, I already bought tickets for B&B THIS Friday--the 12th). The slightly iffy thing about this, though, is that I'm not that great with airports and I think that's one of those things that translates to other situations--like trains. Once I figure out where to go, though, it should all be fine.

The train I would like to take (well, without the plume)... but really I'm taking Amtrak

Today I turned in my outline for my film project (the short movie proposal). C will be my leading lady and it should be a lot more realistic to film than any of my other plans. I'm basing it off that town where all the residents received letters from an anonymous sender. C or J sent us this article about it a while ago, I tried to find it, but only creepy stuff came up (like Jack the Ripper). My story, for the record, has nothing to do with Jack the Ripper. J and A--if you would still like to help I could use you and it would be extra excellent.

J, I'm glad you liked Beauty and the Beast. I'm really looking forward to going--I've heard that it's ace!

C and A, for your English teacher I still have the Dan Logan stencil--would you like it? I was thinking you could just spray it on a baby shirt, and wa-la, fashionable baby attire (babies love Dan Logan because he has cute little chipmunk cheeks).

Also, how many college emails have you been getting? I get about fifteen a day. On that note, if any of you want to go to Ohio University I have the brochure and map that they sent me--you can have them.

Vampire Weekend new album: Contra

Oh! I almost forgot, I (like C) have been loving the new LC! album. Romance is Boring is different from there other albums, but it's great and, again like C, I really adore the lyrics. It's still all very LC!, but the songs are have a more serious tone, and it seems very cohesive. I've also been listening to Vampire Weekend's Contra. They've done it again--I thinks it's very catchy and can't turn it off. Plus, Ezra Koenig is probably the most attractive singer since Bob Dylan (he's at least up there in the top 5).

Loves,

-S

Jellyfish

This week has made me feel like a jellyfish.


I know we've all talked at this point, and I know everything is still far from perfect, but I am really hoping to transcend everything...cause friendships can do that. We have the advantage of having a particularly strong friendship, however it will no doubt take some time. And lots of band-aids.

Just because I have a new group of friends doesn't mean I'm any less your friends, just like A is no less of friends with us because of the time he spends with the "Homecoming Group," or C with her writing group. I know I've been more neglectful than A and C, and I've promised to improve on this. I'm hoping we can all do something next Friday or Saturday? We need some time together. I think that will help, although some open(er) minds wouldn't hurt, either.

I'm starting to sound a little bit like a parrot, I'm sure, repeating myself over and over again to you guys. At the sake of making y'all bored, let's move on...

I went and saw our school's production of Beauty and the Beast last night, with Well, Evvy and her group of friends (who don't go to our school). It was extraordinary! Belle has always been one of my favorite princesses, and I mean, who can resist dancing enchanted household objects? Especially when they're kids from your class with plates strapped to their backs! It was done fantastically, I would so go again. Particularly because Birdie played Gaston. Swoon. Luckily Tom didn't go, or I may have had a bit of explaining to do...

And doesn't Drew Barrymore make a lovely Beauty?

Oh, and we have a new song in dance!


And C--thank you SO much! Oh my god, I am EXCITED!
all photos from here except this one from here

The Future

I promise after this I will pick up the phone book

and choose the name that my eyes fall upon on the first look

a moral of my poorly composed declarations there in the future.

I'm so sorry to have put you through
a lifetime of dedications you never desired.

Los Campesinos!, I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know

Today the task of signing up for next years' classes began. I'm meeting with my counselor on Monday to try and work my schedule out - there are so many classes I want to take and not enough periods for them all with the Occupational credit I still need... I'm going to try and make AP French count as the Occupational, just because that personally makes sense when my future is taken into account. It's weird to think about Senior year already. It makes it seem a lot closer than it is. There are still five months of class, year finals, and an AP test in May. And next year I'm going to be taking lots of AP tests. I don't want to think about that, though.

I've just found out that Youth Guild is meeting next Wednesday. I'm hoping I'll be able to skip Norwegian next week and just go to the House at five for the meeting and stay through the end of open-mic. It would be really nice to see all of those friends since I haven't been there since the beginning of December! I've barely been writing at all, and open mic really gives me an excuse. Plus I want to talk to Nicholas about the new Los Campesinos! album, since he likes them, too.

Los Campesinos! (from here)

Speaking of them, Los Campesinos!'s new album is fabulous. I know that S bought a copy on Saturday when we went into Seattle, but I haven't heard what she thinks of it yet. Romance is Boring, as a whole, has the best lyrics of a Los Campesinos! album to date. Each song flows so seamlessly into the next, both musically and in the context of recurring themes and story. There are only a few (read: probably only two) albums that I've ever fully understood the story of, and Romance is Boring is on that list. It is amazingly coherent and still manages to be musically engaging.

The Campesinos! team has never let down fans when it comes to utilizing as many instruments as possible in a beautiful, never excessive way. Tom Campesinos! composes the songs and they all come full-circle individually as well as together. Each one is so distinct ("Plan A" comes to mind as what could be seen as the "sore thumb" of the record, but lyrics prove otherwise). Gareth's lyrics floor me on each album, but Romance is Boring is something I don't think I'll ever be able to fully appreciate because of all the hidden gems. The opening line of the record gets me every time; I could listen to it over and over again - Let's talk about you for a minute. Leaving no listener wanting, the last lyric of the album is just as powerful: I can't believe I chose the mountains every time you chose the sea. Is there anything better than the first and last moments of a story? Nope. Same applies for this album.

I've had the opportunity to meet Gareth twice before and I was never brave enough to say hello... I'm very intimidated by his writing, but he seems like a nice guy. I'm going to say hi this May when we see them, though! It's my goal! Please hold me to it... we won't chicken out this year.