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

Feeling rather anti-social.

I don't think of myself as an anti-social person. On the contrary, I enjoy the company of my family and friends. However, my actions might indicate otherwise. For example, it's currently Thanksgiving Break - a wonderful week-long respite from the demands of school. How many times have I seen my friends? Well, I saw some of them on Sunday... because I went to church. Otherwise, I've been holed up at home, doing Calculus homework and reading "Ender's Shadow".

What happened to the "me" that enjoys dressing nicely, going to Starbucks, and having crazy sleepovers involving Martinelli's and karaoke?!

I have come to the conclusion that extended breaks from routine cause me to exhibit my worst personality tendencies. In other words, I get really, really lazy and even more nerdy than usual. >.< Oy.

What could possibly cure my inability to do anything productive? Perhaps I need some sort of pocket fairy who can whip me into shape. Or I could just try to develop good time-management habits. Hm. I think the fairy sounds a little more likely.

Yum!

I was craving cookies.

Laina and I checked the pantry, and there were no cookies or cookie mix, or even flour with which to make cookies from scratch. :( But we did find...













Cake mix!! YEAH.

California's burning.

It's so strange and surreal. There are 500 homes burned beyond recognition. Over 250,000 people have been evacuated in San Diego County. I can see an orange glow that seems to be just beyond the hills outside my window. Those flames are a 20 minute drive away. Much too close for comfort. May have to evacuate.

This is by far the largest fire in the history of California. One would think that I would be happy about not having school, but I just have more time to think about the worst possible situations that could happen.



Pray for us.

Photograph found in this article.

Ha! HAHAHA!

Huzzah!

This is my 100th post!!

*party horns*

*happy dance*

Hm, what to talk about in my 100th post? Well, I believe that this is an appropriate time to announce that... I am procrastinating! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, I am putting off my homework as usual. Well, perhaps I am just taking a break, since I just finished my Calculus homework. There's a quiz on Monday, so I have to understand the shortcut of finding the derivative/slope/tangent/velocity, considering that mastered the long way... almost.

Wow, it's my special 100th post and I'm talking about Calculus?! Oy. That says a lot about me.

The truth is, I haven't been up to much lately. I saw Brittany's showcase last night, discussed Disney princesses... It's strange, because that topic always comes up, and I always complain about the lack of ethnic diversity among the aforementioned princesses. For Halloween, I am going to be Jasmine, even though I'm not Middle-Eastern. Quite exciting! But what else have I done? Nothing, apart from homework! It consumes my life.

Well, that concludes this lovely post. Yay for 100!

Oh! I am slain!

That was the best line in Hamlet, uttered by the "foolish" Polonius.

Wait, what? It's September?! Why didn't anyone TELL ME?

Just kidding, I know what month it is. However, it doesn't feel like it's the month that it actually is. Sometimes I think I'm somewhere in November, and other times it is so August I can just feel the eights coming out of my pencil when I write the date under my name on my calculus homework.

Isn't Dad's birthday sometime soon? Hm, I don't know... (note my joking tone).

Yesterday was quite a wonderful day! I saw a professional production of Hamlet, which was also my first time seeing Shakespeare done by professionals. It was absolutely wonderful! I got butterflies, and I nearly cried. Not only was the set beautifully functional and the costumes gorgeous but the acting was excellent. Hamlet was played by Lucas Hall, who portrayed the character so well; his comedic timing was perfect, he wasn't too morose, and he certainly was not overly violent like some people in inaccurate movie versions of this wonderful play *cough*melgibson*cough*.

I fell in love with the play while reading it, and seeing this production has made me love it even more. No matter that the plot could be a soap opera. At least it would be an amazing soap opera with great language. In fact, C.S. Lewis wrote once how great art is that which appeals to the common person, not high, uninterpretable rubbish that not even the artist understands. So the overly-dramatic nature of Hamlet is really a testament to Shakespeare's understanding of good entertainment.

Hamlet is such a better character than, say, Romeo. I mean, even though they both managed to die by the end, at least Hamlet had real conflict and changed over time. Romeo was so... well, he claimed to fall in love with an adolescent girl based on her good looks and then killed himself because he couldn't be with her. So, if I had to choose one, I'd pick Hamlet. Even though he might tell me to get to a nunnery whenever we got into fights, and I'd have problems with my in-laws, at least he wouldn't be like Romeo who would cheat on me with every pretty girl he came across.

Music.

The piano's world encompasses glass-nerved virtuosi and stomping barrel-housers in fedoras; it is a world of pasture and storm, of perfumed smoke, of liquid mathematics.
-Kenneth Miller

Ah, yes, piano. How lovely it is to play! And my fingers barely forgot the movements. Hurrah for muscle memory! After all, I haven't played very much in the past six months. >.<

I never knew...

Gah! I want to be a nerd fighter! I think this is one of my callings in life... you know, besides the other one.

Woe is me! Only two weeks!

First of all, I would like to apologize to my faithful reader. I haven't posted in quite a while, which is an awful thing, because I've been on Myspace almost constantly since I got back from Shasta. That leads me to question my former stance as an anti-myspacist. What am I now that I have essentially turned to the dark side? A lukewarm-not-really-anti-myspacist? I feel as if my world has turned upside down... *tear tear*

In other news, much has happened this summer! I will present events in list form, since there is simply too much to write about.

The moment school got out...

I was happy to be rid of that stifling place, but I was sad that my high school years are coming to a close.

Then there was the Road Trip, not to be confused with the First Road Trip. This one went to North Dakota via Colorado. My butt was unhappy, to say the least, but I was pretty lethargic the entire time, so it worked out. I got a lot of reading done, too.


And I visited Morgan, whom I hadn't seen in many years! Okay, so maybe three years doesn't count as "many", but 3 years out of 17 is 18 percent of my life, which is a large chunk.



I also visited family in North Dakota, "where the West begins". There was much singing, and playing of instruments, and a bit of shopping, plus competitiveness when we went go-kart racing. (My car was the best the first round!)


I also went to Girls State. That was like three weeks squished into one. A little too productive for my tastes during the summer, but what a bonding experience.



Shasta was really the highlight of my summer, though. All of the singing and swimming and general merry-making, combined with lack of sleep was almost overwhelming. And then Friday night happened, and bam! Everything changed. God does crazy stuff at camp.

So now I'm back to my schedule of doing nothing, although I have to go get my pictures developed today. I just discovered The Brothers 2.0, otherwise known as John and Hank Green. Quite funny.