Hum diddle dee dum...

Hello dear little blog!

I have neglected you terribly, but I shall neglect you no longer!

So, I was just looking through some of my old files, and I found a few vignettes I wrote for an English class during my freshman year of high school. Here is one:

From behind drab brown and boring tan peeks my tiny blue house on Camellia Place. Inside, we dance to the beat of the swaying palm trees, waiting. Always waiting. Waiting for the fire marshal, the septic, grading, and building permits, the county, the architect, and the engineer.
“Why is it taking us so long to build our house when it only took our friends a year?” my mother laments. Dad reminds her that every house is different, that we are unlucky. Under her breath, mother threatens to sue.
I didn’t intend to live a year and a half of my life surrounded by these walls, waking to a cloudy Carlsbad sky, as one would wake to a grumpy mother on one’s birthday. Our dream house was supposed to be finished. I often fantasize about spending my time in the room that I co-designed for myself, with the spacious walk-in closet, just like in the magazines. Lightning will thunder outside as I sit comfortably in my storybook window seat, leaning my head against the cold, glass window, engrossed in a novel.
But not yet. The day to start building is always a week away, always out of my grasp, as was the fate of Tantalus. I must spend my time in these moist, dimly lit rooms, praying to God for the project to be finished. Maybe this trial is meant to make us appreciate our new home all the more. Or maybe it’s punishment for actually thinking that we would get it done last year. Whatever the reason is, I don’t like it.

Now, I'm not reproducing this here because it has merit or anything like that. It's just that I'm finally in the new house, and just a few minutes ago, I was sitting in the window seat, reading a novel, and I had to express this rediscovered joy of having a dream fulfilled.

This made me laugh.

Cat Stuck in a Box @ Yahoo! Video

Minnexico?!

This is for you, Margarita.

P.S. Ate, this is in no way a reflection of how I actually see Minnesotans. Including, but not limited to, you. Mucho luvo!

The amazing thing is...

...that I still love it here just as much as I did when I last posted. I love it in spite of the fact that I have two major exams this week, or that the cafeteria food is only okay. I love APU even though the trolleys aren't as reliable as I'd like them to be and I have to wake up early on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

I have found the nerdiest, craziest kids on campus to be my friends. They humble me and challenge me to believe differently, think differently, and be differently.

I am in classes that I am passionate about.

And there's a little prayer chapel that's perfect.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

Notes on being rich.

I love APU!

I love being a Cougar!

I love all of the people here!

I can't express the deep contentment and joy that I am experiencing, but it is a feeling of being exactly where I am supposed to be. All I can say is that I am deeply blessed to have this. Seasons of life are great because the good parts always come eventually.

Did I mention how much I love it here?

The amazing thing is that I am not feeling completely in control of everything. In fact, the next few weeks and years are kind of up in the air. I could minor in theater, or double major, or go to Yosemite or Oxford, or South Africa. I could go on a missions trip, or work with high schoolers or visit the elderly. College is going to be a humbling experience, and I can't wait. I need to get over myself sooner or later, and I think this is a good time. My world is not the world.

Rawr!

Today I moved into my dorm! I am officially a college student. That feels pretty spiffy... and my dorm room looks spiffy too! The only problem is that I don't have enough storage for all those clothes I brought.

You may be wondering what this whole experience is like. Well, when my family and I arrived, our van was practically mauled by over-zealous sophomore alpha leaders cheering about the wonderfulness of APU. Then more alpha leaders whisked away my stuff once I told them where my room was. Unpacking was almost as crazy as packing. It didn't help that there were at least eight people in the room all at once.

Orientation events were fun of course. Highlight of the night was "A Day in the Life" produced by the alpha leaders. It was a collection of skits parodying the APU experience - boys trying to impress girls by wearing deep v-neck shirts and playing worship songs out on Trinity Lawn, riding the trolley with people who sing annoyingly, the problems that occur when guys and girls use the term "DTR" (male definition: Del Taco Run; female definition: define the relationship), and the exploits of ring-by-spring and M.R.S. degree girls.

It's all delightfully crazy. Go Cougars!

A week and a half in revue.

As you may have noticed, my sporadic blogs never really cover the big things that happen in my life. Example number one: I went to Yosemite last week and it was amazing! But I gave up on writing about it before I even started because, well, what in the world could one write about Yosemite to describe it? However, I will say that I had a marvelous time (thanks Carrin!).

Today I went to the Pannikin Cafe in Leucadia and experienced a different kind of amazingness. I ordered a spinach and mushroom quiche. It was the most delicious quiche I've ever had! There was so much cheesy, fluffy goodness that I can't wait to go back again. The only thing that would be better would be Pannikin quiche in Yosemite.

P.S. I did not spell "review" wrong. I just want you to imagine me singing and dancing about the wonders of Yosemite and quiche.

Experiences with time.

I am up late...again. What is it with me and not having enough willpower to go to sleep at a reasonable hour? It's not like I'm doing anything interesting. I mean, I'm syncing my iPod. How exciting! (note the sarcasm)

Perhaps staying up is my subconscious rebellion against the bedtimes of my not-so-distant childhood, when I thought that ten o'clock was beyond late and staying awake until midnight was ludicrous. Those were also the days when the only car I drove was my red and yellow plastic foot-powered automobile and my only aspirations were to one day be an artist/scientist/writer after a mere four years of college. Things have changed quite a bit, haven't they?

I really don't have much to talk about except little tidbits from work, which aren't really that interesting...

I know! How about a little un-interesting story?

One day, Queen Kelstiki was working on some origami when Miss Monotone walked by.

"Ummm... liKe... What arrre you doing?" she said in her most boring voice that made her question sound like a statement.

"Oh, I'm just--"

"I hate the relationship I'm in," Miss Monotone interjected, completely oblivious to the fact that Queen Kelstiki was trying to speak.

"That's too bad..." Queen Kelstiki replied, unsure of what to say to this almost-stranger who was revealing very personal information.

"I like this other guy liKe a LOT," Miss Monotone continued, revealing with her voice none of the affection she claimed to feel. Queen Kelstiki had nothing to say, which was quite surprising considering her tendency towards verbosity. Unfortunately, her silence provided just enough incentive for Miss Monotone to launch a very long and very one-sided conversation with Miss Monotone about Miss Monotone. What could Queen Kelstiki do but pretend to listen politely and hope that it would be over soon?

It wasn't.

The End

(That story makes a small corner of my soul cry)

Admiration does not equate to fangirl status. Just so you know.

Finally! "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is back! This week Laina and I have been plopping in front of the television every evening to enjoy our favorite, bald-headed, tattooed, hundred-plus-year-old pre-teen. What can I say? I'm a sucker for epic stories (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings...). The important question is this: what would happen if these characters were pitted against each other gladiator-style? Scintillating.

Aang vs. Anakin (alliteration!), Harry vs. Zuko (they both have teen ANGST...), Azula vs. Palpatine (they could take turns electrocuting each other!), Katara vs. Luke, Toph vs. Tonks, et cetera!

You know, it would be very bad if Lupin met Princess Yue...

So, what is going to happen? Will Aang battle it out with the Fire Lord? Will he finally get together with Katara? Will Zuko survive being Azula's traitor-brother? These are the questions that keep me up at night. I dwell not on the matters of this world (the foreign policy of the U.S., the presidential elections, the reverberations of the Beijing Olympics) but on the matters of a world far removed (and fictional). The best thing is that all of my questions will be answered by Saturday.

But is it really that spectacular? Yes, yes it is. This is a cartoon with a continuous storyline that explores morality and ethics while maintaining a balance between comedy and drama during a time when most other shows written for the same demographic are relying solely on gags to keep their audiences entertained. Not only that, but the world of Avatar is a beautiful conglomeration of cultural and fantastical elements, creating a distinct, interesting, and original reality. I understand that I am heaping on the praise, but it not often that something of this caliber appears on television.

The summer wind...

In my post before my stint with the Syncing Lips, I was avoiding people, doing calculus, and reading Ender's Shadow. My how things have changed! Quick update on the last month or so: I graduated (went to Grad Nite at Disneyland, had a grad party and went to grad parties), got a Disneyland pass, got a job, listened to Sara Bareilles' album "Little Voice" many times, and I read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. (If you want to read my commencement speech, it's here on Nemesia's blog. )

I am steeped in summer. Sleepovers and beach days and convertibles! Not to mention a minimum-wage seasonal job. I keep having this feeling that things are never going to be quite like this again. How sad to be living a summer of lasts.

Last night Catherine and Carrin slept over. My favorite part besides the amazingly delicious funnel cake that Catherine provided? I would say... the lightsaber fight! And stargazing. I was so excited to see the Milky Way. Usually the sky is dotted with stars, but last night there were so many more than usual. I just laid down on the driveway and feasted my eyes on the heavens. What else can one do in the presence of beauty? Today I wasn't doing anything, so I reread Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Stars! So breathtakingly lonely. They make me feel hungry for life.

Oh my. I'm subjecting you to my teenage musings! Beware...I don't expect to escape this stage of my life any time soon. Anyway, adieu dear friends, family, and Facebook stalkers! Even though I may let out a little of my tortured soul just to say hi every once in a while (her name is Sherry), I do promise to write more often than I did during the past, oh, eight months of inactivity.

APU countdown: 56 days!

Up Close and Personal With: The Syncing Lips, Part 3

Up Close and Personal With: The Syncing Lips, Part 2

Up Close and Personal With: The Syncing Lips, Part 1

the Syncing Lips