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!