I think that's the title of a movie, actually. No problem; I like double meanings (or double references, if you prefer).
In all seriousness, however, it has been a good year. A year of changes, for sure. I've done so many things in 2009 that I had zero experience with in previous years.
For example:
1. I had my first two real boyfriends. Both were wonderful, both ended up being just friends, and both taught me a lot.
2. I graduated high school.
3. I went off to college.
4. I began to seriously consider my writing.
5. I went to state for speech.
6. I went to New York City (my first time out East).
There are many more things that should be on this list, but I think I'll keep things moving forward.
I'm not going to write my New Year's resolutions here. I think the whole point of such resolutions is that you keep them secret, and that you are responsible for keeping yourself dedicated to fulfilling them. I will say, however, that my resolutions this year focus on growing up, mainly, and making myself into the adult I want to be.
Honestly, I intended this entry to be a bit more epic, especially considering the occasion. I'm sorry to have let you down, but I think for now I'll focus on enjoying what's left of 2009.
Happy New Year, dear bloggers. I hope it's as bright as the last one was.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Griswold Christmas, or How My Family Blew a Gasket
First of all, Merry Christmas dear bloggers. I hope that your day is wonderful. We're only ten minutes into the blessed holiday and so far things are looking good.
I'm sitting on the couch in my Grandma's living room in pitch darkness. My sister is asleep on an air mattress below me, and the Christmas tree (small and fake as it is) sits somewhere ahead of me on a table. I can almost make out the silhouette of the thing against the pink outside the window.
Suddenly I am struck with an urge to put out milk and cookies for Santa. This task, besides being childish, would prove near impossible due to the lack of light and of cookies. Still, I hope Santa understands that despite the lack of refreshment, the nineteen-year-old sleeping on the couch has been quite good this year and deserves due reward. And her sister should get a little something too, I suppose.
I guess that you're wondering about the title of this post. It's a reference to the National Lampoons in honor of the very Griswold-y time we had actually getting to Grandma's house.
For starters, our van began overheating while we were driving on the freeway, about two hours from Grandma's. Luckily, there was an exit nearby, and we were able to just barely pull into the parking lot of a gas station/McDonald's before the van completely died. Dad went inside to buy some coolant, but upon pouring it in he discovered that there was a part missing, and that the coolant was just leaking back out.
Luckily (again) there was a mechanic on duty, and he walked out to look at the van. He promptly determined that something was wrong with the casket (don't ask me what that is, but it sounds like gasket, which I found funny), and that the problem would take days to fix. He offered to loan us a van (bless him), and went to get it from his garage and to put a dealer liscense plate on it. Technically, you aren't supposed to let people just borrow vehicles like that, but he told us that if we got pulled over for some reason, we should just say that we're taking the van 'for a test drive.'
When he came back with the 'rental' van, we piled all of our stuff into it. We had a lot of stuff, too. Two duffel bags each plus four laundry baskets of gifts, four pairs of snow boots, two backpacks, and two pairs of snowshoes. Dad joked that all we were missing was Grandma in the trunk (another Lampoon reference, sorry).
Finally we were on our way, leaving our van and the small town of Marathon, Wisconsin behind. I know this ordeal sounds like just some dumb car trouble, and maybe it was, but how lucky that our van began breaking down so close to an exit, and that that exit led to a gas station with a mechanic willing to lend us a van so we could finish our trip? Not to be cheesy, but around Christmastime especially, I think this qualifies as a minor miracle.
I should be off to bed now. Or off to couch, if you prefer.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
I'm sitting on the couch in my Grandma's living room in pitch darkness. My sister is asleep on an air mattress below me, and the Christmas tree (small and fake as it is) sits somewhere ahead of me on a table. I can almost make out the silhouette of the thing against the pink outside the window.
Suddenly I am struck with an urge to put out milk and cookies for Santa. This task, besides being childish, would prove near impossible due to the lack of light and of cookies. Still, I hope Santa understands that despite the lack of refreshment, the nineteen-year-old sleeping on the couch has been quite good this year and deserves due reward. And her sister should get a little something too, I suppose.
I guess that you're wondering about the title of this post. It's a reference to the National Lampoons in honor of the very Griswold-y time we had actually getting to Grandma's house.
For starters, our van began overheating while we were driving on the freeway, about two hours from Grandma's. Luckily, there was an exit nearby, and we were able to just barely pull into the parking lot of a gas station/McDonald's before the van completely died. Dad went inside to buy some coolant, but upon pouring it in he discovered that there was a part missing, and that the coolant was just leaking back out.
Luckily (again) there was a mechanic on duty, and he walked out to look at the van. He promptly determined that something was wrong with the casket (don't ask me what that is, but it sounds like gasket, which I found funny), and that the problem would take days to fix. He offered to loan us a van (bless him), and went to get it from his garage and to put a dealer liscense plate on it. Technically, you aren't supposed to let people just borrow vehicles like that, but he told us that if we got pulled over for some reason, we should just say that we're taking the van 'for a test drive.'
When he came back with the 'rental' van, we piled all of our stuff into it. We had a lot of stuff, too. Two duffel bags each plus four laundry baskets of gifts, four pairs of snow boots, two backpacks, and two pairs of snowshoes. Dad joked that all we were missing was Grandma in the trunk (another Lampoon reference, sorry).
Finally we were on our way, leaving our van and the small town of Marathon, Wisconsin behind. I know this ordeal sounds like just some dumb car trouble, and maybe it was, but how lucky that our van began breaking down so close to an exit, and that that exit led to a gas station with a mechanic willing to lend us a van so we could finish our trip? Not to be cheesy, but around Christmastime especially, I think this qualifies as a minor miracle.
I should be off to bed now. Or off to couch, if you prefer.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
That Side of Paradise
Here's something ironic:
About a month ago, I was taking a quiz for my Intro. to Lit. class. I hadn't studied as much as I should have, so I was stuck on a few questions. In desperation, I wrote one of my favorite quotes in the margin: "Stop using so many exclamation points. It's like you're laughing at your own joke." That's a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Why is this ironic?
Because I was thinking about it the other day while lying in bed reading my "History for Every Day" book. Just then, I discovered that yesterday (December 21st) was the anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald's death.
Now that's ironic.
In light of this irony (which I'm sure F. Scott himself would have appreciated), I have decided that the next book I read will be "This Side of Paradise."
"This Side of Paradise" (wow I'm tired of these quotation marks) is F. Scott's first novel, and was a big success when it came out. Best of all, he started writing it when he was just twenty-one. That's two years older than me. And while I can't see myself having time to start a novel while in college, I think it'll be an inspirational read.
This entry strikes me as rather pompous (perhaps it's the quotation marks?)
I don't think I'm pompous, so I won't let it bother me. Pip pip.
About a month ago, I was taking a quiz for my Intro. to Lit. class. I hadn't studied as much as I should have, so I was stuck on a few questions. In desperation, I wrote one of my favorite quotes in the margin: "Stop using so many exclamation points. It's like you're laughing at your own joke." That's a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Why is this ironic?
Because I was thinking about it the other day while lying in bed reading my "History for Every Day" book. Just then, I discovered that yesterday (December 21st) was the anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald's death.
Now that's ironic.
In light of this irony (which I'm sure F. Scott himself would have appreciated), I have decided that the next book I read will be "This Side of Paradise."
"This Side of Paradise" (wow I'm tired of these quotation marks) is F. Scott's first novel, and was a big success when it came out. Best of all, he started writing it when he was just twenty-one. That's two years older than me. And while I can't see myself having time to start a novel while in college, I think it'll be an inspirational read.
This entry strikes me as rather pompous (perhaps it's the quotation marks?)
I don't think I'm pompous, so I won't let it bother me. Pip pip.
Friday, December 18, 2009
La Vie En Rose
It means "looking at the world through rose-colored glasses," or literally "life in pink." Isn't that a lovely concept? I'd like to live in a world like that, or at least walk through from time to time. Pink is not my favorite color, but I don't think I could ever be sad or mad or stressed in a rose-colored world.
The song 'La Vie En Rose' is originally French, however, I have an English translated version on my ipod; Louis Armstrong sings it well. I think the French version is much prettier, though. Somehow the English words are a let-down after the title.
I suppose I don't have anything to write about except this marvelous song...
I got an A in my College Writing class, which I'm quite ecstatic about. As for the rest of my grades, I don't know yet. I have a feeling I could have worked harder in a few of my classes; I think the fun and wonder of college got to me a bit. Next semester I'm going to work on getting my studying done earlier rather than procrastinating. I don't even think it's worth it anymore to have fun and then have to stay up until four a.m. to finish a paper.
The funny thing is that the fun I have is not partying or drinking; it's just talking and hanging out with my friends. Walking to the wind turbine, playing Apples to Apples, watching movies, having snowball fights, playing sardines in the Humanities Fine Arts Building. Innocent stuff, really, but distracting.
Alright well I think I'll go to bed and read. I'm working on getting through Gone With the Wind for the fourth time. It's always a bit of a struggle, just because it's such a dense book, but I get something different out of it every time I read it. We'll see what it is this time.
I'll just put my rose-colored glasses back on now. Goodnight dear bloggers.
The song 'La Vie En Rose' is originally French, however, I have an English translated version on my ipod; Louis Armstrong sings it well. I think the French version is much prettier, though. Somehow the English words are a let-down after the title.
I suppose I don't have anything to write about except this marvelous song...
I got an A in my College Writing class, which I'm quite ecstatic about. As for the rest of my grades, I don't know yet. I have a feeling I could have worked harder in a few of my classes; I think the fun and wonder of college got to me a bit. Next semester I'm going to work on getting my studying done earlier rather than procrastinating. I don't even think it's worth it anymore to have fun and then have to stay up until four a.m. to finish a paper.
The funny thing is that the fun I have is not partying or drinking; it's just talking and hanging out with my friends. Walking to the wind turbine, playing Apples to Apples, watching movies, having snowball fights, playing sardines in the Humanities Fine Arts Building. Innocent stuff, really, but distracting.
Alright well I think I'll go to bed and read. I'm working on getting through Gone With the Wind for the fourth time. It's always a bit of a struggle, just because it's such a dense book, but I get something different out of it every time I read it. We'll see what it is this time.
I'll just put my rose-colored glasses back on now. Goodnight dear bloggers.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
I Need No Ruby Slippers
I just need my Dad, a truck, a three and a half hour drive, and some gasoline to get me home.
Here is the master plan for my break:
1. Get in the Christmas spirit (what's wrong with me? I'm not even excited yet!)
2. READ a lot. I would like to finish Gone With the Wind (600-some pages left), and get through at least four more before break's over. I've missed reading for pleasure so much it's unreal.
3. See my friends from high school/middle school/possibly meet up with college friends
4. Write a bit if possible. After all the papers I had to write near the end of the semester, I think I need a small break from anything too formal, but journaling and poetry is always wonderful.
5. Just relax in general and enjoy being home.
P.S. I got an A on my final college writing paper (the 6-page research argumentative one that I've been working on for over a month). I practically skipped around the dorm when I got it back (sorry if this is braggy but I worked incredibly hard on it).
Here is the master plan for my break:
1. Get in the Christmas spirit (what's wrong with me? I'm not even excited yet!)
2. READ a lot. I would like to finish Gone With the Wind (600-some pages left), and get through at least four more before break's over. I've missed reading for pleasure so much it's unreal.
3. See my friends from high school/middle school/possibly meet up with college friends
4. Write a bit if possible. After all the papers I had to write near the end of the semester, I think I need a small break from anything too formal, but journaling and poetry is always wonderful.
5. Just relax in general and enjoy being home.
P.S. I got an A on my final college writing paper (the 6-page research argumentative one that I've been working on for over a month). I practically skipped around the dorm when I got it back (sorry if this is braggy but I worked incredibly hard on it).
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Title explanation: I just really like that song and thought that it would make a neat title. It's by the Smiths, if you wondered.
Here's what's going on right now:
1. I'm sitting on my (loft) bed listening to the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack.
2. In theory, I'm writing essays for my lit. final.
3. In actuality, I'm on Facebook, playing with Play Doh, texting, and writing this blog entry.
Here's what I'm thinking about right now:
1. How much I love everyone in Pine Hall and how much I'll miss them over break. A few people finished their finals today and went home. I was perilously close to crying; I honestly hate to see them go, especially since I don't get to head home until Thursday evening. Being left behind is never fun.
2. Usually I'm so excited for Christmas, but this year I've hardly given it a thought. Probably because I've been so stressed out about finals and the end of the semester. Also because we don't have any decorations up! It's ridiculous! I should make a few snowflakes or something for our window.
3. I really should go back to my lit. essays. I want to get both done tonight.
So goodnight dear blog readers. I hope you all have amazing adventure dreams (the very best kind) tonight, and that in them you get to fly at least for a little bit.
Here's what's going on right now:
1. I'm sitting on my (loft) bed listening to the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack.
2. In theory, I'm writing essays for my lit. final.
3. In actuality, I'm on Facebook, playing with Play Doh, texting, and writing this blog entry.
Here's what I'm thinking about right now:
1. How much I love everyone in Pine Hall and how much I'll miss them over break. A few people finished their finals today and went home. I was perilously close to crying; I honestly hate to see them go, especially since I don't get to head home until Thursday evening. Being left behind is never fun.
2. Usually I'm so excited for Christmas, but this year I've hardly given it a thought. Probably because I've been so stressed out about finals and the end of the semester. Also because we don't have any decorations up! It's ridiculous! I should make a few snowflakes or something for our window.
3. I really should go back to my lit. essays. I want to get both done tonight.
So goodnight dear blog readers. I hope you all have amazing adventure dreams (the very best kind) tonight, and that in them you get to fly at least for a little bit.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Holly's First Finals Week
I've heard about college finals. Evidently, they're hard. Evidently, they're cumulative. Evidently, they require days (not hours) of study. Evidently, they practically determine your grades for the semester.
Today, I'm here to tell you that all of these rumors are true.
I spent all day Saturday making flash cards for my U.S. History final. All day. I honestly didn't do anything but eat, sleep, and create flash cards with terms ranging from 1945 to 1980. The final count was 158 cards, or if you need a visual, a stack about the thickness of the latest Harry Potter book.
I spent all of Sunday studying these cards. Flash cards only really work for me if I can talk them out to myself; you know, pace around a room and explain each card over and over out loud until I know it. Finally, at about 1:45 this morning I went to bed.
The trick about the history final was that it covered such a broad range:
1. 30 pages of notes from class lectures
2. Nemesis (a book about U.S. foreign policy)
3. Coming of Age in Mississippi (an autobiography of Anne Moody, Civil Rights activist)
4. Voices of Freedom (a book filled with different letters/speeches from history)
The final itself was six short answer questions, i.e. nine random terms were given to you, and you could pick six to write short definitions about, and one broad essay question that encompassed the entire unit.
I'm happy to tell you that I thought the exam went really well. It was at 8:00 a.m., so I was tired, but I still think that I got at least an A-.
Now I just have my literature final left. It's on Thursday, so I have a few days to study. Thank goodness, because this final will be even more difficult, I think.
Going to begin studying now, and then watching Up at 7:00. I think I've earned a movie break.
Today, I'm here to tell you that all of these rumors are true.
I spent all day Saturday making flash cards for my U.S. History final. All day. I honestly didn't do anything but eat, sleep, and create flash cards with terms ranging from 1945 to 1980. The final count was 158 cards, or if you need a visual, a stack about the thickness of the latest Harry Potter book.
I spent all of Sunday studying these cards. Flash cards only really work for me if I can talk them out to myself; you know, pace around a room and explain each card over and over out loud until I know it. Finally, at about 1:45 this morning I went to bed.
The trick about the history final was that it covered such a broad range:
1. 30 pages of notes from class lectures
2. Nemesis (a book about U.S. foreign policy)
3. Coming of Age in Mississippi (an autobiography of Anne Moody, Civil Rights activist)
4. Voices of Freedom (a book filled with different letters/speeches from history)
The final itself was six short answer questions, i.e. nine random terms were given to you, and you could pick six to write short definitions about, and one broad essay question that encompassed the entire unit.
I'm happy to tell you that I thought the exam went really well. It was at 8:00 a.m., so I was tired, but I still think that I got at least an A-.
Now I just have my literature final left. It's on Thursday, so I have a few days to study. Thank goodness, because this final will be even more difficult, I think.
Going to begin studying now, and then watching Up at 7:00. I think I've earned a movie break.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Microsoft Word Will Not Defeat Me
It is currently 2:48 a.m. and I'm up writing a paper for College Writing. Actually, I'm revising it; the final draft is due tomorrow.
I have about a page and a half to go, and I'm feeling fairly optimistic. I just want this paper to be good. I really, really want it to be good.
My C.W. professor has been pushing me all semester. From the beginning he told me (not to brag, sorry) that I have great instincts and that my writing is way above the typical freshman's. He then informed me that he would be grading me harder than the other students so that I'd become an even better writer.
Cool beans.
However, needless to say, I'm feeling a bit of pressure here.
I have about a page and a half to go, and I'm feeling fairly optimistic. I just want this paper to be good. I really, really want it to be good.
My C.W. professor has been pushing me all semester. From the beginning he told me (not to brag, sorry) that I have great instincts and that my writing is way above the typical freshman's. He then informed me that he would be grading me harder than the other students so that I'd become an even better writer.
Cool beans.
However, needless to say, I'm feeling a bit of pressure here.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Blank
How's this for a turn around?
I am not okay on so many levels. I feel like my insides are gone and like I'll either fly apart or cave in like a deflated balloon.
I want to be alone but I think I would go crazy if I were.
Things look normal, but they can't possibly be.
I want to sleep and not think.
But when I wake up tomorrow morning I just know that I won't recall right away what has happened. I'll be at peace for a few seconds.
And then I'll remember.
And things will start over.
I am not okay on so many levels. I feel like my insides are gone and like I'll either fly apart or cave in like a deflated balloon.
I want to be alone but I think I would go crazy if I were.
Things look normal, but they can't possibly be.
I want to sleep and not think.
But when I wake up tomorrow morning I just know that I won't recall right away what has happened. I'll be at peace for a few seconds.
And then I'll remember.
And things will start over.
I Live An Amazing Life
For example:
Last night, my roommate Ally and I realized that December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. On the eve of this day, you're supposed to put your shoes outside of your bedroom door in hopes that St. Nicholas will stop by and fill them with goodies. I convinced Ally that we should each put a shoe in the hallway outside our dorm room, though we we didn't really think that they would be filled when we woke up.
This morning, Ally woke me up by screaming, "He came, he came!"
In each of our shoes were two packs of gum, a package of hot chocolate, and a package of popcorn.
St. Nicholas is real.
Last night, my roommate Ally and I realized that December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. On the eve of this day, you're supposed to put your shoes outside of your bedroom door in hopes that St. Nicholas will stop by and fill them with goodies. I convinced Ally that we should each put a shoe in the hallway outside our dorm room, though we we didn't really think that they would be filled when we woke up.
This morning, Ally woke me up by screaming, "He came, he came!"
In each of our shoes were two packs of gum, a package of hot chocolate, and a package of popcorn.
St. Nicholas is real.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Things I've Accomplished Today (So Far)
1. Prepared another gift for my Secret Squirrel
2. Made plans for a sleepover this Friday night
3. Spread Christmas cheer to my roommate
4. Took a two hour nap
5. Wrote one sentence of my article
6. Gotten into a disagreement over something fairly stupid
That is all.
2. Made plans for a sleepover this Friday night
3. Spread Christmas cheer to my roommate
4. Took a two hour nap
5. Wrote one sentence of my article
6. Gotten into a disagreement over something fairly stupid
That is all.
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