Weekly Bread Sing-Alongs

OK, this isn't much of an update, but GUYS:
THE WRITER'S STRIKE IS OVER.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Office, Ugly Betty, and Gossip Girl should be returning in April.
But (this is almost for sure) Heroes and Chuck won't be back until the fall.
24 might appear in the fall schedule, but it most likely won't be on until January '09 :(

Either way, this is still amazing news! I'm so glad the writers got most of what they wanted and can finally start making money and quality shows again.

Here's a short article from MSNBC: read. It's still going to be two weeks until the writers finish voting on whether to ratify the new contract or not, but you can read the summary of the deal here (PDF file).

EXCITEMENT!

mood: distressed
music: a fine frenzy - near to you

I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE APPS. OH GOD. *COLLAPSE* Oregon & Washington probably meant midnight January 15th, but who cares!

azasalllike (12:07:01 AM): i think they mean midnight tomorrow
sethsaysGPRA (12:07:09 AM): oh well, tomorrow's american idol

I spent half of my Sunday working on my Oregon essay and decided to leave the whole credit card business for tonight. I'd left my Washington application unfinished because I'd fallen out of love with it and felt so low about my chances at getting in that I thought I'd save my dad the $50. Then I talked to Emily today, and she convinced me that all I had to write was 250 words of culture bullshit and that I should just submit it. Of course, I still waited until 10PM to start working on the application again. (In my defense, I didn't get home until 8:30 and ate dinner from 9 - 9:30.) I had all of this information to enter about my activities and not just descriptions but shit about how each one has "affected" me. I'd already filled in all the tiny things, but I kept double-scanning it all, out of paranoia. The short response turned out to be ridiculously difficult to write. I wanted to talk about how multi-cultural my Lowell group is, compared to all the Asians I've hung out with in my past, but 250 words is SO restricting. I got so carried away with descriptions that I didn't have room for a conclusion. Aiiiii! I was typing away at 11:45.

I'm so jittery! How am I ever going to go to sleep? Oh God, I'm going to bomb my Psych CH 9 - 11 FRQ tomorrow. Aaaaaahhhhhhh, fuck! I'm so not prepared for the next two weeks, oh god oh god oh god.

But you know what? I'm so relieved and happy right now. Everything college-application-related is behind me. No more guilt about procrastination, no more struggling over writing perfect personal statements. Now I just have to wait two months to hear if I got accepted into anywhere hah.

I'M FREE!

P.S. Did I mention '08's been absolute shit for me so far? But that's for another entry :)

mood: optimistic
music: rilo kiley - silver lining

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I just looked at my resolutions for this year, and boy, did I fail haha. I had so many breakdowns this year and spent way too much money, especially on food. But! I did manage to hang out with my friends more often and continue to open up to them. I also saw plenty of movies in theatres. Two out of ten isn't so bad =P

Some people don't see the point in making resolutions, if you know you can't keep them, but it's about admitting what you need to improve in yourself and trying to change yourself for the better. And I seriously need to do that.

( bring it on, '08 )

Happy New Year, everyone =)

A class of Chinese students looked at me. I thought to myself, "These people look more Chinese than usual..." "This is a Chinese class. Steele must have sent us to the wrong room." My classmates crowded the hallway and looked around, confusedly, for something to lead our way.

We had originally been misplaced by Mr. Michels' class' Urban Plan presentations. I peeked into our usual room and saw familiar faces, dressed up in black suits and skirts. Their purpose that morning was to propose a city, a real city, to a few people from our real City Hall. I laughed. My purpose that morning was to ace a chapter test, nothing compared to stuttering over the decision to place a homeless shelter near an elementary school.

Ten minutes later, a familiar heavy, red-faced man came waddling down the hallway. We immediately started whining. "Let us go, Mr. Steele! We can't take our test in the hallway." "Well, why don't we go into that empty room?" "There are no chairs in that room!" "Well...the copies I made of the test are messed up anyway. Did you guys put a hex on me or something?" "Of course not!" "...Okay, but I do actually have homework for you guys. It's about everything Pepsi owns, and it's on a worksheet, so it'll be fun." I couldn't help but burst out in laughter. Luckily, people had already started crowding around him for the homework, so I didn't receive a dreadful glare.

And that is why Janay and I are in the library right now. I'm not a fan of the computer lab, or the noisy click-clack of the keyboard, but I AM a fan of not taking tests.

I'm currently editing the senior skit for the spirit rally this Friday.
It's due tomorrow.
I hate you, Mr. Schmidt.
I also hate you, technology (specifically, sound FX).
People better like this goddamn thing.

(Contrary to this post, I'm looking forward to this week's activities. And there's a big yearbook annoucement tomorrow!!)

mood: relaxed
music: the new pornographers - all the things that go to make heaven and earth

I am currently in love with:

+ Ugly Betty/Eric Mabius
+ Hot Rod/Andy Samberg
+ Live Free or Die Hard/Justin Long
+ Arrested Development/Jason Bateman

Two other shows that I discovered this summer and like but am not quite obsessed with:

+ Entourage/Adrian Grenier/Jeremy Piven/Kevin Connolly
+ Flight of the Conchords/Bret McKenzie (Jemaine doesn't quite do it for me)

What can I say? I'm a teenage girl. Part of what makes summer so awesome is that you really get to sit down and appreciate entertainment. Too bad none of my friends understand.

Also:

+ New Pornographers' Challengers & Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: my favorite new-ish albums right now
+ Final Geo 2 grade after over a month of hell: B!
+ Yearbook camp with Adam and Steven at Menlo College: mildly fun and productive
+ Keane coming back last weekend: cool beans :D
+ Visiting University of Oregon this weekend: extremely exciting!!

I just got back from watching Order of the Phoenix at midnight (really around 12:30, after previews). Basically: Wow. It was insane. I love Harry Potter dorks. The audience was fantastic. The movie itself was pretty good. The directing was awesome, and I loved the whole "fight back against the Ministry!" feel. I didn't like the book much, but I still felt like the ending of the movie left out a lot. I usually don't even care about that stuff, but I admit to feeling disappointment with the Dept. of Mysteries and the recap meeting in Dumbledore's office. It was, like, two sentences. I can't quite explain it. I was just left wanting more. The whole movie just flew by. They did a superb job condensing Umbridge's take-over plot, but there seemed to be less and less of everyone else. The adult actors really were underused in this movie. And I found myself missing Malfoy! Maybe he wasn't in the fifth book that much...Oh, and Snape's memory was way too effing short. It was basically "James is a bastard." And they didn't even show Harry grasping with the fact that his dad was indeed an asshole to Snape. But Order of the Phoenix is still a great movie by all means. Very entertaining. I LOVED Fred and George, Luna, the whole D.A. thing. And they actually threw in hints to the 6th book! Very little delusional H/Hr love for me :( But Ginny was kickass, Cho was a little bitch, and R/Hr was really cute. Ermmm, yeah, that's pretty much it for now. I need to see the movie a second time or discuss it with everyone else tomorrow. Maybe I'll have more thoughts then. Now to get 3 hours of sleep, then go to my grandparents' and get 2 hours of sleep. Stupid ridiculous system. I wish my parents would just let me stay home alone.

In closing, I love love love Harry Potter. And happy 7/11 Day! Don't forget to get your free Slurpee!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that we were SECOND in line. Thank you SO much, Kathryn! If it wasn't for you and your friends, we would have been something like tenth - fifteenth. It was crazy being at the front and screaming and cheering. We did that right before the movie came on too. Someone led the audience in a wave and scream match haha.

mood: sleepy
music: hellogoodbye - here (in your arms)

I'm too tired to recap my first truly horrendous Arena experience, so I'm just going to give you guys my schedule:

4/5 - Economics - Edelman
6/7/8 - AP Psych - Bower
9/10 - Epic & Myth - Drain
11/12/13 - Adv. Alg. 2 - Sinn
13/14/15 - LUNCH
16/17/18 - Physiology - Laureyns
19/20 - Yearbook - Nickels

If we have any classes together, let me know!

Random upload: Bloc Party - The Prayer (hxxp = http)

mood: jubilant
music: arcade fire - rebellion (lies)

Yesterday was all kinds of crazy. Here goes...

( whoooooooooosh )

GOOD LUCK ON FINALS, EVERYONE!

So I'm going to be updating this post until 1AM.

( SHAKE 'N BLAKE! )

EDIT - 5/23/07 -

( Once a Blaker Girl, always a Blaker Girl )

mood: awake
music: blake lewis - you should be dancin'

Small update:

1. I got a new phone! Yesterday afternoon, I said bye to the beat-up Samsung I've owned since June 29th, 2005. I nervously looked through it and held it until the Verizon employee took it away to transfer the data onto my new phone. Now it's lying on my cabinet, turned off =/ Yeah, I get too attached to things. BUT. My new phone is pretty damn amazing. I'm still getting used to it, but hopefully my texts will take less than 5 minutes to compose now.



I didn't realize the black model was so new and "cool" until Janay screamed out of jealousy when she saw it in my hands. (And it was FREE!)

2. After the informational meeting scared me to death, I decided not to run for historian. Ha, no, I'm not that lame. It's only partially true. I mainly don't want another stressful school year or to end up burned out and tired all over again. It's as simple as that.

3. 24 was amazing. I don't care if this season's been a bit predictable. The action makes up for everything, and there are some moments when I love 24 more than anything in the world.

4. Other TV stuff: This is the week I lose my dear Blake Lewis (most likely). This is also the week JAM succeeds and Karen takes a hike to NYC (most likely). TEAM PAM! She was so courageous last week.

5. I'm looking into volunteering at the Ingleside branch during the summer. I'm not very familiar with the branch, but it's the closest to City College, so I'd be able to zoom there right after summer school. Does anyone know how volunteering works? Do you have to go through the Main Library?

6. HARRY AND THE POTTERS AT SLIM'S, 8PM, JUNE 29TH!!!!!!!!!!!!! $12, but who cares. It's Joe and Paul being awesome in. a. club. And it'd be my first visit to Slim's too...Oh God, I'm spending all of my money on concerts and t-shirts.

mood: sleepy
music: interpol - the heinrich manuever

Oh man...Spider-man 3 was SO awesome.
My family was first in line!
And can I just say that Tobey Maguire is perfect?
Seriously. Mmmmmmmmmm.
Angry!Peter was so funny. THE DANCING! The emo hair and eyeliner were ridiculous (butkindofhot).
Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and Rosemary Harris acted amazingly as always.
Flint Marko/Sandman was a great and important addition.
The action does NOT disappoint. Neither does the humor.
Oh, and the plot was good too.

The only bones I have to pick are with Gwen, Eddie, and the lack of Venom. "Great but disappointing" is all I have to say.

OH, AND THE HP TRAILER HAD NO SOUND. WTF. A bunch of fans, including me, cheered and clapped nonethless.

So that's it. I can't wait to see the movie again.

( other )

mood: a bit confused/hesitant
music: omarion - icebox

OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OoTP looks fucking epic!



( JUNIOR PROM recap )

mood: relaxed
music: mika - love today




Keane's gone. We said goodbye at the airport around three hours ago. The week was much too short.

( his last day )

mood: grateful (that the music doesn't suck)
music: kaiser chiefs - i can do it without you

"Yours Truly, Angry Mob" came out today! The cover's not much, but the new logo on the CD is amazing. It's so cubic and hip. I'd wear it on my chest any day. I haven't seen it anywhere, though, so maybe it's not really their new logo :/ YET. The booklet's great but not very personal. I wish I hadn't given in and downloaded the leak two days ago. It definitely wasn't that exciting when I popped in the CD in the car. But nonetheless! The music is really awesome! It definitely shows growth. Most of the reviews I've read are negative only because of the quality of their lyrics, which doesn't matter all that much to me. "Employment" wasn't lyrically spectacular, and I wasn't expecting a massive improvement. I was just worried about their catchiness carrying on to their sophomore effort. But not anymore! Even "Ruby" has grown on me.

I REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM IN APRIL NOW. Connie bailed out on me :O None of my friends listen to Kaiser Chiefs either. If you're the slightest bit interesting in getting bruised up with me, don't hesitate! It's on a Friday night, April 27th, 8PM at the Warfield downtown. The tix are $40 something, including service charges etc. You can download some tracks at the Hype Machine, hear a sampling at their official site, or ask me to send you their album. Please, please, please! I would be forever indebted to you and will happily grant you (almost) anything :)

mood: bouncy
music: the new amsterdams - turn out the light

Today was SO FEEL-GOOD and completely made up for the rest of this shitty week.

Film As Lit: Matusek pushed the Sex and Censorship test to Wednesday!
Reg: Awwww, Ms. Mitchell had grapes, apples, and oranges for us.
US History: The debate was unproductive during our round, but Justin, John, and RJ were hilarious.
Mod 8: RAMON IS A CREEP :)

Peer Resource: Adee was absent (YES), so instead of support groups, people signed in and left. Five of us stayed behind to watch Dogma. It was the funniest movie I've seen in a while. Ohhhh man, Chris Rock as the 13th Apostle? Haha! Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as Bartleby and Loki were surprisingly funny. There were a lot of good thoughts on religion too.
Lunch: Danny and I even stayed during 11/12 to continue watching. My stomach was growling for the sandwich in my locker, but it was worth it. We didn't finish though :O

Physics: We had a "work day." Spam, Jenelle, David, Austin, and I sat around laughing at ghetto terms. "BAAAAAAAAAALIN'!" And we all sang the opening lines of "Tell Me When To Go" haha.
Adv. Alg: Damn, we had Merlo. The only good thing is that the class flew by.
Yearbook: Steven brought chips! I wish we'd gotten the yearbook done today (the final deadline), but we're missing names and photos for some of the sports pages.

After school: We had a pretty chill time. Bending straws, drinking Starbucks for the first time in months, talking about "Miss Saigon," seeing Kathryn, yep yep. I went downtown early, so I found myself a new top! Finally. I'm getting so tired of wearing the same t-shirts.
Report card: I GOT A 3.5. OMGGGGGGGGG. I seriously can't recall the last time I got a 3.5. My math grade always kept me at 3.0 - 3.33. Yesssss! What makes me most happy is seeing an A+ for the first time EVER. It's for Yearbook. Nickels loves me :D

So yeah, I'd say that I had a pretty good day :)

mood: sick/coughing
music: peter bjorn and john - young folks (i feel hip just listening to this song.)

TOOTHPASTE FOR DINNER BONUS COMICS


Two more favorites: Crosswalk and This is NPR. I enjoy NPR in the mornings for half an hour and sometimes randomly, but the bonus comic is HILARIOUS. The rest of them can be found here.

---

I opened up my playlist over the weekend, so HERE are some uploads. Feel free to scroll up, and request something too! If you do, make sure to comment on that post, not this one. It's more organized.

( this week so far and more music talk )

I've finally decided which courses I'm going to take fall senior year: Epic & Myth, Economics, AP Psych, Physiology, Adv. Algebra 2, and Yearbook. I really need to take at least one AP during my Lowell career, and because I fudged up with APUSH, I'm going with AP Psych. (APUSH probably would have made me hate US History, actually.) Taking Psych means I have to ditch Peer Resource, but if Luis isn't coming back and all of my friends are graduating, uhhhhhhhhhh, yeah, no-brainer. No, I actually do feel really guilty. I do. But seriously, can you blame me?

Okay, I'm going to take off and look into majors and junk.

mood: relaxed
music: kaiser chiefs - heat dies down

Mega post since I haven't updated in forever:

I finally decided to risk squishing and disappointment and see Kaiser Chiefs at the Warfield, Apr. 27th. Connie's coming with. These are all my upcoming events:

3/10 - Prom dress shopping with my mom/Not the SATs
3/16 - Final Yearbook deadline
3/17 - Anna's birthday bonfire!/St. Patrick's Day
3/23 - Battle of the Birds DANCE/Woo, clubbin'! (Is the actual Battle of the Birds game on 3/22?)
3/30 - 4/8 - SPRING BREAK
4/5 - The Office returns from hiatus!!
4/21 - JUNIOR PROM OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG at the Renaissance Hotel
4/23 - Heroes returns from hiatus!!
4/27 - KAISER CHIEFS AT THE WARFIELD/Will my former #1 band prove itself?
5/4 - Spider-man 3!!!! (SEVEN-MIN. LONG NBC PREVIEW)
5/5 - SAT Reasoning test :O
6/2 - SAT Subject test/ARCADE FIRE AT THE GREEK THEATRE

( interview & song memes )

( i'm feelin' really, really, really happy )

I hate Yearbook.
Less than four hours of sleep, here I come!
AND EVEN MORE STRESS TOMORROW COS I STILL HAVE FOUR PAGES LEFT.
Why? Because neither my advisor or the editor approved my images until 11PM.
I hate my life.

mood: ♥
music: phantom planet - california

The OC is over. That's it. The end.

The show has been a huge part of my life for over three years. I've never cared about anything like I care about The OC. Forget Harry Potter. Harry Potter didn't enter my life until after the fourth book. I've been with The OC since the very beginning. The first season was completely magical. It hit pop culture with lines like, "Welcome to the OC, bitch!" and "You know what I like about rich kids? *BAM* NOTHING." You can't forget Ryan and Marissa's immediate connection either: "Who are you?" "Whoever you want me to be." (For more quotes and a small picspam, check out aimtomiss' celebration.)

The last season made up for the past two years of misfires. It was funny, melodramatic, sweet, everything The OC should be. The series finale was pitch-perfect too. It tied up loose ends, but it also reminisced enough to pay a good tribute to the show. Most importantly, it looked forward to the future. All of the characters, especially Ryan, received the closure they deserved. I was crying my eyes out for the entire second half.

The characters on The OC aren't just fiction to me. I identify with each and every single one of them. They really do feel like real people. They've made me laugh, they've made me disappointed, they've made me angry, they've made me frustrated, they've made me scream for joy, they've made me weep, and they've made me happy. As I have found my way through my teenage years, they have too. (Not year for year, but pretty much.) The OC means the world to me. Ryan, Marissa, Seth, Summer, Kirsten, Sandy, and all of the supporting characters, even the ones I hated...I'm going to miss them all so much.

I applaud The OC for going out on the top and going out beautifully. Goodbye, Orange County.