On the Corner of Belleview

You Heard It Here First

2010-01-15T21:00:00.005-05:00

Hi, hi! Things are happy despite the upcoming week of midterms. Sarah and I are cooking up some plans for that moment when we are released from the bonds of studying, so that and watching season 4 of The Office have been keeping me sane. Well, I don't know about you...but I've heard enough about me. What have you been doing this oh ten? (That's the trend. Calling it Oh. Ten. Not 2010. Really, it's the newest thing: get on board.) So! Have you been...

smiling (in a Cheshire manner?)

skating?

blowing up balloons...

...with just the slightest bit of sass?

robot-ing?

seeing cute greeting cards?

hanging out with missed friends?

documenting acceptance speeches?

Yes? No? Just me?

Well, go on. Fill me in! And have a magictastical weekend.

I shall be studying. (And really, you can't ask for more magic than that)

Sideways

2009-12-28T16:06:00.015-05:00

This whole day has been extremely peaceful. I haven't done a lot particularly...I've had two cups of steaming peach tea, eaten leftover tiramisu and two of the absolutely delicious cookies from Lineth's mom (which, before I forget, you're going to have to make at least once a month when we share our apartment, Linut), listened to the same couple of songs on repeat, read a bit of Ethan Frome, napped on and off, used some warm vanilla sugar body wash, wrote out a couple of story ideas, and tested out my new binoculars. So, not exactly productive but extraordinarily blissful in its packed-with-those-small-pleasures way.

I had Selected American Authors--probably my favorite class this semester--on Wednesday (the half day before break) and, if you can you believe it, no one wanted to work! So alternatively, we ate baked goods--my mom's peanut butter cookies and my friend Allie's oatmeal--and had a photo shoot. I had brought my camera to class to snap a quick group picture at the end, but as I looked around the dim room--the only light coming from the windows and one small lamp--I remembered my long ago craving to have a projector made silhouette photo shoot. So, I grabbed the projector from the corner of the room and walked around the classroom, scouting for profiles. Almost everyone got involved (have I mentioned how much I love my class?) and the half hour class went by way, way too quickly. I had my friend Sarah trace the outline of one of my scouted model's profile, used my left fingers to cover the projector which made it cast that rainbow light about the board, had my friend with excellent penmanship, Allesandra, write Thoreau's words "There is no remedy for love but to love more” on the board, and then started to shoot.

I don't think I've really thought about the quotation until right now. I think the words just had merely sounded nice...but now I'm starting to realize what he means, or at least what his words mean to me. I feel like everyone must come to a realization at some point about the painful side of love. Maybe it's a voice that says, hey, hey wait a minute--what's the point of loving anything when inevitably you're going to get hurt? Think of grandparents, parents, pets, friends, siblings, anyone--anything! Which c'mon, how depressing.

So then, what is the cure to this aching, to this feeling? Maybe Thoreau is saying it's simply to wrap yourself in it more...to remember all those beautifully positive things about love. To remember the smiling, the pounding heart, the thrill that any kind of love can bring and think less about the sad part of it all, the part which does not exist initially and only comes when the brain forces itself to make conclusions. Romain Rolland said that "One makes mistakes; that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved." I think I'm going to try to remember that.

Whew. Sorry, didn't mean to go into that little tangent! I guess I've just had a lot of different things on my mind lately.

After this tribute to Thoreau, I recruited anyone who wanted to to grab all different colored markers and just put chaos on the board: nonsensical designs, little words, doodles, everything. Of course, they rose to the occasion.

Then I asked my returning model Maddie (borrowing my Christmas sweater this time) and Kayla (who had her own excellent sweater on) to mirror each other.

I really hope there are more classroom photo shoots in the future, because it was a blast. I could have done it for a couple of hours more...although considering it was the period before the start of our freedom for a week and a half, I don't know how many willing models I would have still had left...

I might go see The Princess and the Frog tonight with a friend from work. If I don't end up doing that though, I think I'll stay in with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind--which I have only heard excellent things about--and another pot of tea. Side note, did anyone enjoy 50 degree weather yesterday? It felt like spring, which albeit is heavenly, I don’t quite feel like I’m ready for. Hopefully a snow storm coming in around New Year’s will extend our winter break…but if not, I suppose I could deal with a couple more of these gorgeously sunny days…that is, as long as the snow doesn’t go away for good this season!

Putting Up Reindeer; Singing Songs Of Joy & Peace

2009-12-22T22:25:00.011-05:00

I've been listening to River (Joni Mitchell) again and again and again. It kind of gives me that feeling of being alone but not at all lonely...plus it reminds me of Emma Thompson in Love Actually--and really any association to Love Actually is always a good thing.

I took a sequence of strumming a G chord on the guitar for a project in human bio. The final result was entitled 'Striking the Right Chord: The Muscles Behind Playing Guitar.' I'll give you a minute to digest that cleverness there.

Forever 21 leotard, mom's boots, vintage (Finnish?/Swedish?/Hungarian?) embroidered vest, Kohl's skirt

Anywho, on my old blog, I used to do a 'Week in Pictures' update, so here is a glimpse into what's been going on in the past few weeks...
Friday, December 11th

My first encounter with latkes! Annie's mom makes the best I've ever had. (:

We watched Jeopardy during dinner, and although I felt slightly incompetent next to Annie AND her pro family's selves...it was so much fun. And of course I got the Harry Potter related question right! (House elves was one of the answers, can you believe it?)

After we headed out to a coffeeshop fundraiser to see our friends play.

Annie made a guest appearance on stage with our friends' band to sing an acoustic version of Lady Gaga's Papparazi. It was fabulous.

Jess tried to resist photos at first...but just look at how pretty she looks! She couldn't hide for long.

The current members (Chris, Austin, Matt) of Heatherbird together...albeit all looking in different directions!

***

Saturday, December 19th

I went into the city with Chris and his family. Christmastime in the city is absolutely magical. Especially when it's snowing. I could have stayed for days and days.

We checked out the window display on 38th and 39th in Lord & Taylor. It gave you that feeling of just wanting to be instantly transported into another world. This girl had the most adorable coat...and was perhaps 30 times a better ice skater than I can ever hope to be. Seriously, I skate like one leg is paralyzed...my friends will testify...it's a problem.

I love taking pictures of other people's poses. If I ever get a good one I always want to send it to them but I don't ever end up asking for fear it sounds too creepy and stalkerish. Still, I love taking the photos...it's kind of like a little time capsule of these people's lives that they don't even know exist. Think about it: how many of other people's pictures do you think you're an unknowing subject in? I always wonder how many people's vacation's photos I have unwittingly (and unattractively) been a part of.

SO jealous of the little girl's hat! And it totally would have matched my Christmas sweater (have I mentioned my Christmas sweater? Well, if you'd like a little peak at it, check out Annie's recap of our day in the city.)

VACATION BEGINS AT 12:30 TOMORROW!

Adventures will include an annual holiday party with my four best friends, exchanging of presents, and duckpin bowling (in which you do NOT bowl like a duck, Lily!)

Happy Holidays to all!

A Wintry Revival

2009-12-14T23:25:00.007-05:00

So, it is officially...(still not) winter! But it feels like it should be, doesn't it? Not exactly because of the weather or anything...just because it's December. And really, shouldn't all of December be considered "winter"...not just this from December 21st on rip-off, you know?...Okay, ramble over.

SO, you might remember Annie's post from way back when in October. Remember how it was bursting with color and leaves and all fall-like things?

Well, now, I've given the other part of our photo shoot from that day a bit of a wintry remix!

(In these photos I took of Annie from that day, she wore a vintage jacket and camisole, Forever 21 skirt, gifted tights, vintage suede and cork wedges, and earrings from Portobello Road in London)

Fall was fabulous, but I think these fit the current mood of the season a little better.

In other news, life is crazy busy this week. Between rehearsals for the underclassmen play, a human biology project on muscles, and an essay on The Scarlet Letter, I think all I'm going to have time for this week is school, homework...and er, sleep? Mmm...maybe, we'll see. However this weekend should be fabulous at least, including a chem class reunion, a trip into the city with Chris (with the distinct possibility of running into Annie and Luke) and hopefully starting to make concrete plans for the upcoming holiday break!

On me in photo above: borrowed-from-mom vest, Gap waffle top, randomly found ring

P.S Shh...don't tell, because it's not FOR SURE yet...but I might really, really start liking Lady Gaga! I believe it was a combined doing courtesy of Sarah and Annie. First of all, Annie sang Paparazzi for our friend's band the other night (AND TOTALLY ROCKED IT, I must say) and then Sarah showed me this...and I think I might be hooked. (Note Ellen at the end by the way...totally adorable!) But, human bio now includes me and Sarah trying to harmonize Bad Romance...and then getting told to sing louder by kids in our class/testing our teacher's patience? But still. Worth it.

Alas, Pilgrims!

2009-12-07T21:13:00.019-05:00

I forgot the extent of my love/hate relationship with disposable cameras. It's exciting to wait and see what you get...but the week wait?? It can be difficult!

Anyway, this year's day before Thanksgiving tradition involved some from the old and some of the new, too.

After we got our table at a Chinese restaurant and had gobbled down our scrumptious appetizers, Bex volunteered to go with me to the CVS a block away to get the traditional disposable camera. This guy above indulged me in my back and forth “is the CVS brand or Kodak better for blah blah blah” and was really very helpful. So, after we left and were barely five feet outside from the exit, I said to Becky "You know, I really want to take a picture of him." She said I would regret it if I didn’t, which I knew I totally would so we went back. Just look at that lovely smile!
Biggest tourist spot of the town, clearly!
Our entrees came just a little bit after we returned. Of course, we had to sample each other's dishes here and there...
After lunch, we had lots of fun with shopping carts.

Lineth somehow got stuck in the middle!

Then of course it was time for portraits!

Now and then

(I think we've agreed Bex's is our favorite from this year!)

I took a shot of this year's poster in order to keep with the tradition, but then we couldn't help fooling around with the other posters, too...

Favorite photo from the entire day? I think so.

After getting our seats in the theater, we ducked out in groups to stock up on less-expensive-than-those-at-the outrageous-movie-theater treats at Stop & Shop.

Lineth and I decided on sharing gummies and a cookies & cream Hershey's bar. Yummy choices, if I do say so myself!

I gave Sarah and Lil the camera to take with them on their adventures...little did we know that we both clearly had troubles with decision making and needed to spend some time deliberating in the candy aisle.

After the movie we stopped into Starbucks...

...to use the bathrooms? Ahem, uh, Lily?

All in all, year two matched up to the first and was a blast. I'm already anticipating next year's mix of movies (R rated perhaps, as we'll all be 17!) library brick walls, and other shenanigans around the town.

Now, I must go pass out from exhaustion, (oh, and read a chapter from The Scarlet Letter whoops...) so good night (and sleep tight.)

(Oh no...there I go with those parentheses again...)

November's Yin & Yang

2009-12-01T17:54:00.010-05:00

Yang
Very good episodes of Gossip Girl (sans Hilary Duff!)

Talking with my bus driver
Sarah’s family over for ThanksgivingAfter taking Kelly, our favorite four-legged guest from Pennsylvania on a walk, we stopped around my neighborhood to take some photos.

Long conversations with Grandpa

(And the brick wall photos that later ensued)
Grandma and Grandpa kissing for no particular reason (I asked, and they had to scrounge for some excuse why!)
Err...possibly the result of that above kissing? (Pop pop and my daddy...can you see any similarities?)
How I now know where I got my modeling skills...

I mean, look at that man! A natural born model!

Logical trig problems

Channeling the writing style of Herman Melville
When I can see the floor of my room
Buy U A Drank
SAT Questions of the Day
Somehow Sarah and I got our whole human bio class (including the teacher) to participate in answering

If you guessed b you’re qualified to pass the SATs! (or something like that)
Day before Thanksgiving traditions
Really excellent dreams

Using gala as a synonym for party
Becky playing piano

Um...did I mention she's amazing?

***

Yin
Disposable camera induced anxiety
Terribly confusing essay prompts
Broken laptops
Dissecting chicken wings in human bio

***

There’s always a little good in the bad and a little bad in the good.

My Spanish Cow (he says "Mooochas gracias!" when you squeeze his tummy) amidst a section of my dad's books

Although November's my favorite month of the year, I am very ready for December...more specifically, December break! Still, I'm going to try to remember not to waste away the time and instead really try to savour these last few weeks of '09.

Now, tell me. What's your Yin & Yang been for the past month?

Day Before Thanksgiving Traditions

2009-11-25T22:19:00.019-05:00

Have you ever started a tradition one year and by the next you treat it as if it's been in place for your whole life? Soon enough, you start saying "No, wait. We have to go to the same place for lunch...c'mon we do it EVERY year!" Well, case in point for me is our (Lineth, Sarah, Lily, Bex, and my) half day before Thanksgiving festivities. I don't know what it is about our semi newly created pre-Thanksgiving rituals, but it truly feels like a long standing tradition (and hopefully it will continue to be!)

Last year entailed...attempts to create "band photos" (or at least what our CD cover would look like if we had one!),

running up trees,
dashing across crosswalks,
individual portraits in front of white brick walls outside of our library,
candid laughing "you never know when she's gonna take it!" shots,

Salvation Army bell ringers,

confusion at non specific directions on restaurant signs,

witnessing the chaos that is the supermarket lines the day before Thanksgiving,

seeing the first Twilight, permanent eye damage from an unbelievably bright flash,

and getting the best seats in the movie theater. As our friend Ginger said when she saw us today in our (traditional!) middle middle middle five-seater "Aw, it's like it was made for you guys!" Which is a wonderfully nice (albeit a teensy bit vain....) thing to believe.

***

SO, good news: our adventures today lived up to every bit of the fabulousness from last year. I'm going to try and get the disposable cameras developed ASAP, and I can't wait to see the results. (Ah the simultaneous frustration/excitement of disposables!) But for now, we are (finally!) onto THANKSGIVING ITSELF! Sarah and her family are coming over along with my grandparents, my dad's best friend from his old town and her dog. Lil's mom very very sadly has pneumonia and will most likely not be able to come (which is quadruply disappointing as she has come every year since we first invited her,) but yet she STILL made us a sweet potato souffle. Can you say dedication? The good news though is that Lil's still going to drive herself over (that little licensed girl, can you believe it?) and spend the night. An evening of amazing food, intensely competitive board games, and plenty of laughter will surely ensue.

Well, I must rest before I get up bright and early to see our team's (last!) football game of the season. Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

P.S Oh my word. Just read this over, and whoops...in my last two paragraphs alone I used 7 parenthese-ridden interjections. (Um, forgive me?)

She Defied the Laws of Physics

2009-11-18T00:48:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, Chris, Jess, Matt, Emily, and I all piled into Emily's car and trekked over to Hartford for a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. Jess and I got stuck with sitting in the way back with about a foot of leg space, but I guess compared to Matt's Voldemort-like limbs, it was probably a fair deal. When we finally got to the XL Center, we waited out in the rain for a while, keeping ourselves entertained by the amazing trumpet player outside. I almost died of happiness when he started playing some Sound of Music tunes, (as it is basically my most beloved, most watched movie of all time.) Liesl=my dream part if there ever was one!
Anyway, after being ushered inside to get our seats relocated "at the relocation desk with the relocation lady!" (although we weren't really sure why) we grabbed some WAY overpriced rip-off imitations of food, (Chris's corn dog was about the size and thickness of the average person's index finger...c'mon now...lame, lame, lame) we got our new and improved seats! We were so high up (in section 228) and were almost directly across from the stage, so I was happy with them! TSO is perhaps most known for their rendition of Carol of the Bells, which they changed to make a little political this year. We agreed that they didn't get as far as actually making a point about their opinions on politics, and that it functioned more to get some ideas out there. Nevertheless, the effect of the different country flags flashing on stage looked really cool.

However, the two most spectacular parts were undoubtedly 1) the ongoing light shows (really, the crew who designed/worked on all those light stunts deserves a standing ovation of their own) and 2) the electric violinist.

Now this lady defied the laws of physics. She literally spent the entire concert whipping her hair up and down, around and around, and NOT ONCE did it get caught in the violin. As Chris pointed out, that's just not possible.

The finale involved a surprise jet-like platform and lots more hair swinging. It was awesome.

(All photos taken by me)

P.S It should be noted that when we got out, (nearly three hours later when the "light" rain had turned into more of a pouring one), the trumpet player was still at it! I gave him a dollar for his admirable stamina.

I wore this to school yesterday. This plaidenomenon has swept the nation and left behind no survivors; in fact, flannel Friday seems to be an unspoken grand ol' tradition here at the high school now. I must say, I have proudly participated. Yesterday in my literature class, we counted and I believe eight people in total were wearing some sort of plaid. I think it just looks universally awesome.
(Forever 21 plaid, gifted button earrings, Secret Treasures leggings, mom's belt)

I think I'm going to get a haircut soon. I'm planning on getting bangs at some point, but I always seem to find a new excuse not to do it...for example...it's summer! Bangs will just be annoying and get in the way...oh no...school pictures are coming up! What if the cut looks hideous?! I don't want that to be remembered...wait, the fall show is next weekend; Bonnie would slay us if we all start getting haircuts now! Oh shoot...I've just been cast in the underclassmen show...I can't change it now! So, yeah. In conclusion, I need to suck it up, stop making excuses, and get to it! (So, around January 24th...as soon as the underclassmen show is over...then I'll do it! I "promise.")
My dad and I just spent the last twenty minutes cracking up at Whose Line is it Anyway? videos. I love that show. In the words of Colin "It all started with a badly timed bald joke!"

I'll be doing a blog catch-up (yay!) with all of your lovely blogs later, but for now, good night! And sleep tight.

If Wishes Were Fishes

2009-11-13T23:42:00.001-05:00

I need about a week in this bed to recover from the past week. I wish it was mine.

(Photo cred: Ian Aleksander Adams)
I wish Lily and I had gone on our annual apple picking before it got too late.
I wish it still looked like this at my bus stop...
...instead of like this.
Yet I think I would rather take this...
over this. I'm just all jumbled up inside!
I wish I had been waiting for a certain someone to come in the door...
...except instead of that luncheonette I wish I'd been waiting in Les Deux Magots...
(Photo cred: Zeny Cieslikowski)

...and perhaps wearing this instead.

(Vintage dress, mom's lace camisole, TJMaxx tights)

And if wishes were fishes, I know where I'd be

Casting my net in the dark rolling sea

And if my net's empty when it comes back to shore

I'll throw it away and go fishing no more

My mom’s started playing Eric Bogle again, so I know it’s getting close to the holidays. It’s just one of those things!

P.S This blows my mind. I can’t wait to find out more.

October's Yin & Yang

2009-11-08T23:43:00.000-05:00

Yang

Business meetings via email
The clacky sound boots make on tile and cement
Photoshoot Monday Traditions

The thrift store
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Edemame soy beans
Black leggings
Getting ready in the dressing rooms before a performance....

Ginger straightening her hair
Annie applying make-up
...and then the performances themselves Our Professor Willard at a dress rehearsal
Checking out books at the library
Understanding logs
People asking me recently if I do ballet
(I don't; I just really used to like wearing that tutu!)
Top Chef on Wednesdays
Google celebrations
Coordinating/comparing outfits with my history teacher
Disposable cameras

Annie with a car outside the thrift store that totally matched her outfit that day

Everything pumpkin flavored
Taking pictures of costumed people against brick walls

Wendy as Tigger, Kobi as Doc JD, and Katherine as Pooh

Herman Melville
Waitressing
Death Cab’s ‘Soul Meets Body’
Getting a Halloween themed sticker for getting 100%s on business law tests
Big breakfasts with friends

Before our plates were loaded with delicious bacon, eggs, and toast at Jess's house, we drank coffee and tried to figure out the crossword (Annie grabbed the cool Shakespeare mug first)

Brothers & Sisters on Sunday nights
Home football games
Marching band
Road signs
The feeling on Saturday morning of still having two more shows left of Our Town

***
Yin
The sound my alarm clock makes on my cell phone
Not understanding labs in human bio
The feeling on Saturday morning of having only two more shows left of Our Town

***
There’s always a little good in the bad and a little bad in the good.

Mom's black boots; Hillary Clinton white heels

A lot less Yin than Yang for me at the moment though, so I suppose that's an acheivement! Today was the last production of Our Town. I don't think I've gone a dress rehearsal or performance without crying, even a little. It's been my favorite play to do so far, and although I do realize I say this almost every time I finish a show...I'm pretty sure I really mean it for this one.

But, enough about me! Go on, tell it: what is your Yin & Yang for the month?

If Only Grandma Was Here

2009-11-04T23:41:00.000-05:00

Apple trees, ladders, picking teacups from the teacup tree, friends hats, Tobey, three different cameras, funky berries, inherited teapots, and books with pretty covers were the themes of today’s photoshoot.

Carrying thirteen books in one hand? Mm...let me tell you, it's harder than it looks.
And I'd be lying if I said that they didn't slip once or twice...or six times. (What kind of a waitress am I?)

I couldn't resist reading a couple of pages from this particular classic!

Tobey wanted in too, of course.

Coldwater Creek sweater, Forever 21 leotard, Secret Treasures leggings, Gap skort, mom's boots and ring, borrowed hats and dog from Jess

It was around this point that Jess got the idea to start stacking the teacups. She said, "If only grandma was here..." when a particularly fragile looking one started wobbling precariously at the top of the teacup tower. However, I can now safely (and happily) put out this disclaimer that no teacups were harmed in the making of this photograph.

It's teacup season! They seem to be the ripest this time of year...

...uh, we had a lot of fun.

All photographs credited to the lovely and talented Jess!

***

In other news, the show opens tomorrow! I have come to absolutely adore Our Town. Besides having a wonderful cast (and probably the funniest, most loony director who tonight while trying to read her notes said "Barf? Wha...OH. brad! Who's brad? Ohh. Right. Brandon! Sorry, it was dark,") it is a truly remarkably written play full of the most beautiful monologues and quotations one can hope to find. I'll be posting a couple of photos from our production of it at some point, but for now wish Annie and I good luck!

Helter Skelter

2009-10-31T23:31:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween all! I hope everyone had a super special holiday filled with tricks, treats, and everything in between. I for one spent the evening with my four best friends, busting out all kind of dance moves to Lil's dad's massive amounts of music and establishing ourselves as the oldest crowd of trick-or-treaters in the neighborhood.
"Please take one."

Then Janice Joplin arrived and it was really a party!

Mmm, adult treats? Yes, please!

Shooting Sarah was extra fun due to the stand-out elements (including amazing neon striped tights, a striped hat, and polka dotted dress) of her witch costume. Although, to be honest, her incredible photogenic-ness doesn't hurt either!

Waaaatch out...it's the witching hour!

From left to right: Daphne & Velma, Miss Esmerelda the Witch (hey Sar, is it okay if I named you?), and Janice, of course

Trading ensued...the Almond Joys proved to be very unpopular and they were offered in favor of M&Ms and Hershey bars. I think Lily didn't even want anything in exchange for the Almond Joys; she just wanted to get them off her hands! The most popular commodity was probably the Butterfingers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. In this particular trade-off, Sarah is mid-saying "Suckerrr" as she simultaneously snatched Lineth's tootsie roll and held onto her own lollipop. It might just be one of my favorite photos from the evening!

I went as a girl (my name is Sharona, but my friends call me Lisa) going to a prom in the 80s. The best comment of the night was from a really sweet guy sitting in front of his parent's house who said "I think my date wore that to prom!"

After we gobbled down delicious chicken fajitas made by Lily's dad, we flipped through the channels looking for a good Halloween movie. This one's description particularly amused me and the acting was so atrocious it really looked more like a comedy than a horror film. We ended up settling on watching part of a Family Feud episode and the end half of Bring It On: All Or Nothing.

***

All in all, it was an awesome Halloween. Next year might be the year of dirndls or Backstreet Boys...who knows?

Photoshoot Monday

2009-10-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

Photoshoot Monday: It strikes again! After a successful afternoon with Annie the week before of......

1) volunteering at our local thrift store,
2) going to her house
3) photographing like mad
4) snacking on the ever so delicious combo of Challah bread and white grape juice
5) uploading photos
6) determing how much pasta is really fit for two hungry people

and
7) heading off to evening theater rehearsal
...........we decided to repeat! I joined Annie in her amazing gig at the thrift store on Saturday. We spent our morning sorting through expired items and putting them away to be sent to Goodwill...the perks of this being that we get to see some fab items that, at half price, cost next to nothing (which happens to be exactly in my price range!) I walked away with a bag full of about six or seven items for just over $20. We were both surprised to find that the three hours we spent there really just flew by and I think both of us walked away with some fabulous purchases.
On an entirely unrelated note to this post, I've been listening to 'Let The Sunshine In' from Hair on repeat this evening. I don't know if it's after hearing Ronald Reagan's quote: “A hippie is someone who looks like Tarzan, walks like Jane, and smells like Cheetah" or just because I heard a song that sounded like it on the television, but I sure do feel like dancing around waving my hands in the air!

Thrifted skirt, Secret Treasures leggings, Gap shrug from Annie, Bozzolo shirt, mom's belt, shoes, ring, and earrings

Major props to Annie for all the shots! And if you haven't already, be sure to check out her post for more photos. Photoshoot Monday really is a grand tradition.

Well, now off to study for a major math test on logs. I've been working really hard lately, so wish me luck! (And let me know if any big exams/essays/auditions/what-not on your end are coming up so I can send the good luck wishes back your way, too!)

Happy 6.022 x 10^23 Day!

2009-10-23T16:42:00.000-04:00

Oh, our dear Avogadro. Did you ever think that your "little" number would ever make for such a big celebration?

In any case, happy birthday Mr. Lorenzo Romano Amedeo Carlo Avogadro di Quaregua e di Cerreto! (And you wonder why 6.022 x 10^23 is such an enormous number...just look at the name of the guy who invented it!)
I came home from some extra help in math (I know, on a Friday afternoon; you can't tell me I don't know how to party!) and had to hurry up and get ready for the football game. Instead of setting up my camera and tripod, I decided to just grab my computer and put the webcam to use! So, apologies for the eh-ish quality of these!
I have someone to introduce to you, and that is my twin. She's usually nearby but doesn't often appear in photos (camera shy.)
Secret Treasures leggings, mom's Eddie Bauer jumper, Annie's lace top, ring found on kitchen counter, gifted earrings, thrifted shoes
I think I was thinking of Pepper and Chips's post when I made this face!
I look a little worried here...possibly concerned about the outcome of the football game?
Well, in the end, there was really no need to fret. We won 21 to 0, and more imporantly we (the marching band) are still undefeated! After the game, Sarah, Lil and I piled into the backseat of Lily's dad's convertible along with Wink (Lil's dog) and drove to the closest Chinese restaurant. I swear I still smelt like dumplings and fried rice until I showered the next morning. (Though not going to lie, a Chinese restaurant is really not the worst thing in the world to smell like!)

Well, I really must...HEY, wait a minute...AVOGADRO? Is that YOU?! What are you doing here, buddy?

Oh, OH fine. I see how it is. I'll pledge some allegiance to you...ahem...

"I pledge allegiance to the mole, and to the science from which it comes, one SI unit, extremely divisible, with micromoles and millimoles for all." -R. Thomas Myers

Well put, sir!

I Think I'll Adopt E.B. White

2009-10-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

I announced to my history teacher today after walking into class that I was wearing shoulder pads. We then went onto discuss vintage things/shoulder issues/her daughter's thankfulness to have my teacher's clothes at her disposal, etc. for the next couple of minutes. Mrs. B was wearing a Halloween themed blouse complete with ghosts and bats that I am not ashamed to admit that I would most likely (definitely) pick up at a thrift store. I think she's my style twin.
Well, I come home from a literary magazine meeting today to absolutely gorgeous lighting. I couldn't resist taking a couple of photos or two...or 132...
Oh! For your intellectual pleasure, the first time American television utilized instant replay was in 1963. (Another tidbit of information I learned on the bonus question of a business law test.) I guessed 1978...well, at least I was only 15 years off! I mean, a kid actually guessed somewhere in the late 1800s. Yes, indeed, instant replay was used before television...mm, right, you learn something new everyday?
Today, a girl in my Selected American Literature class gave a presentation on Melville. At the end, she informed us that you can actually adopt him! She then said "Sylvia...who's the one you love again? E.B. White? You could adopt him, too!" Well everyone in my class knew what THAT meant. (I have a slight (i.e. rapidly growing) obsession of him ever since we read his adorable Thoreau remembrance essay.) And besides that, Charlotte's Web? I could read that book about a million times/already have read it about that many times! Anyway, unfortunately my hopes and dreams were crushed when I got home and realized that only select poets were available and up for adoption. Well, at least I could always adopt Billy Collins...
You might not be able to tell, but these earrings match perfectly with the colors in the blouse. I was wearing them when I went thrifting on Saturday and found this shirt (actually one of the parts to the three piece set), and both Annie and I agreed it must have been fate. Knowing I shouldn't tamper with what the Gods were telling me, I had them hold it for me and got it on Monday.
Thrifted blouse (w/ shoulder pads!), Secret Treasures leggings, ring found on kitchen counter, borrowed earrings & boots from mom's (because what outfit would be complete without taking at least one thing from my mom?)

The Friends Hat

2009-10-20T21:24:00.000-04:00

This hat makes friends; I guarantee, it's the most personable, mysterious, inviting, inanimate object you will ever meet. After taking the PSATs, Annie, Jess, and I piled into a friend's car and drove to the thrift store in town at which Annie volunteers. It was there that Jess found this oh so magical hat. After purchasing, she got three compliments walking through a grocery store. Three compliments in about thirty minutes of owning it: that's pretty impressive!
(She's a proud owner!)
And the ultimate test: it looks good against brick walls! (But then again...what doesn't?)

By then, Annie and I still hadn't eaten, so we went to the restaurant around the corner to get lunch and hot chocolates. Mine had overflowed onto the saucer, and I told Annie and Jess how I have an Iranian friend who drinks tea by first pouring it into the saucer to cool it down and then moves onto the actual cup. Annie had to snap a picture when I explained to them what I meant. After waiting outside for what felt like eternity to our starving stomachs, our food finally came. By that time, about five different people had exclaimed how crazy we were for sitting outside. But really, it was one of those lovely, crisp fall days and besides it seemed like inside the half the population of our town was crowded into the luncheonette for an afternoon snack. In any case, the food was worth the wait! I got salmon on fresh salad & pita and bought Jess a chocolate milkshake. For that she generously said the hat could be communal and then let me wear it when we met a friend for coffee. (The Starbucks barista fell in love with it. So let's recalculate here...four compliments in an hour of that hat's new life...that's still not so shabby!)

The hat must have been telling a very funny joke. After sipping down a completely delicious pumpkin spice latte, Chris and I walked over to our local playshop, a small theater in which professionals and non-professionals alike put on plays and musicals. My dad designs absolutely fabulous sets for them, and Chris and I both performed As You Like It there this summer.

The playshop is a really great old building and would be such an amazing place to live in with about four of your closest friends for a month in the winter. Besides being surrounded by woods, there's a waterfall nearby which basically means that when walking out of rehearsal you can't quite tell if it has started to pour or if it's just the perpetual sound of the running water. (And on top of that, there's a quite personable little chicken who frequently pops in to say hello!)

Did I mention that Chris should be a model when he grows up?

All in all, taking the PSATs was not nearly as bad as I anticipated!

Smartest Party In Town

2009-10-15T20:50:00.000-04:00

Jess's party seems so long ago now--although really it was only last Saturday--that it feels a little weird to even post about...but, it was too much fun not to dedicate a little something, so here goes!First of all, everyone had their cameras. With Annie, Emmy, Isabel, and me...(plus Jess's camera was floating about somewhere)...it was like the paparazzi was following us. Except instead of the paparazzi taking pictures of celebrities like their job typically entails, they decided that their fellow camera friends were cooler and therefore started the clicking and flashing in each other's faces.
The bathroom door was more or less paper thin, so I could hear Jess and Annie planning one thing or another...I could hear something to the effect of "Yeah, that's good...get her." And then...SURPRISE! Annie did get me! Ack, those paparazzi people won't even let you take a pee in peace, will they?

The restaurant had the most delicious pizza. Usually I'm a fan of thicker dough, but in this case it was just yummy. We got one pie with literally every meat topping you can possibly put on a pizza...seriously, it might as well have been entitled "The Vegetarian's Worst Nightmare Pie." But we also got a delicious veggie loaded pizza to balance it out (quite tasty as well) so all was okay.
Expecto patronum?
The first time Jess ever came to my house, she immediately spotted (and became infatuated with) the turkey shaped baking pans my mom has on display downstairs. She thought it was hilarious and ever since then she wanted me to have her over for a turkey cake baking fest. So, I thought it was only fitting to make her the turkey (pumpkin cake with chocolate glaze) for her birthday!

Of course the first thing Jess did after we all sung her Feliz Navidad (clearly the birthday traditional...) was unceremoniously hack off its head.

And then the jokes about turkey cakes started rolling...I bet you never thought there could be so many, but believe me. There are.

Racing M&Ms down the back, naturally. (Austin won; Kobi thought his side was rigged.)

***

The party ended with Jess showing off her new/old record player. The sound was just so gorgeous it made me wish we all still used them. Most of the people at the party had been trickling off by then, so those of us who remained indulged in some swing dancing around Jess's room before we left too. I think if I could be a pro at any type of dance, it would probably be swing. Or maybe ballet. Or tap! OR BALLROOM. Oh dear. This is why I don't make decisions.

The No Cavities Club

2009-10-12T22:34:00.000-04:00

I went to the dentist today! (Oh dear...I just added an exclamation point to the end of that sentence...what is wrong with me?) But honestly, I like going to the dentist. I like knowing that my teeth are clean and even more than that I like the trip down there. Because my dentist is in my hometown, it's an excuse for the 45 minute drive back to visit! Especially around this time of year the drive along the river and woods with the ever-changing foliage provides for some absolutely stunning views.

Anyway, at my dentist there is something called the 'No Cavities Club.' If you're still in the club by the end of the check-up, you get a new polaroid taken and exchange it with your last one on the wall. I'm probably one of the oldest members on the wall now and maybe it's time I move on, but old habits die hard. After all, it really is the best part of the appointment!The beautiful wall!
Oh, just look at how I've changed! (And check out that adorable little Seth(!) next to me...now that's a smile!)
Isn't my hometown beautiful?

And then my mom and I drove down the street to see the very reason that my blog is entitled what it is. For that, it was a lovely afternoon!

P.S Quick survey, is it just an old stereotype about people hating to go the dentist? For all of you readers/bloggers/beautiful people: tell me if you like/don't like going to the dentist!

I Like Answering Phones, Too

2009-10-08T21:10:00.000-04:00

I was incredibly tired today. At some point I remember thinking that I could write a book about how tired I was. I mean, no one would read it. But the fact that I even thought about doing it is truly an indication of how exhausted I was.I had spaghetti for dinner tonight. There's something about spaghetti that just makes me incredibly happy. Although I made a promise to myself a long time ago (I think at some time around when I saw 'Switching Goals' for the first time...has anyone seen that Mary Kate & Ashley movie?) that I would never order spaghetti on a date. Though now that I'm thinking about it again, maybe it would provide amusement, like a good conversation piece. Or perhaps it would just be horribly awkward. Maybe only little kids can pull off eating spaghetti like animals.
The Office Wedding is tonight! I want to marry a guy exactly like Jim. Seriously, I think we could make it work. I love weddings. I always had that fantasy of being a flower girl, but it never happened. Now I suppose I'll just have to wait to be a bridesmaid (ahem SarahLilyLinethBeckyAnnieJessEmmyKaileigh?)
This is my dad's bulletin board at his office. Unlike majority of New Yorkers, my dad likes to accept the pamphlets, free samples, and brochures people stuff in his face. He says people give him two sometimes because they're not making any progress. My Aunt Judy (his sister) once made a game of getting people to take them and was much amused to see how they would dodge, squirm, and pretend not to see her...anything to avoid taking that apparently supremely offensive little pamphlet! I've been taking pictures with the Holga. I'm going to try to develop them later this week...although I have had the film sitting in the camera for much of last year and the summer, so I really hope it's still good!

Photo cred: Justin Waldron, my own, Jeff Engelhardt, dad's office friend, self portrait

Flying a Kite

2009-10-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

I had two cups of tea today. And some delicious hot chocolate from the deli after school, too. It was just that kind of day.
I ate a very pregnant apple on the bus ride to school this morning. That kind of sounds borderline barbaric, but it's the best way I can possibly describe it. My mom's favorite type of apple is Macoun and you can only get it this time of year. My favorite is McIntosh with Golden Delicious at a close second, but Macoun's not so bad either.Oh, Happy Barcode Day on Google! It would be hard to express how happy I am when Google celebrates something. And really, more often than not they're celebrating some kind of event. That's just the way life should be, you know?
For your intellectual pleasure, the most popular food ordered in a sit down restaurant--not fast food--is fried chicken. It was the bonus question on a business law test we took on Tuesday. The other choices were ham, turkey, spaghetti, friend shrimp, and roast beef. My friend guessed roast beef and was very disappointed to find out he was wrong. No one guessed ham. (Or at least, no one admitted to guessing ham.)
My history teacher abbreviated Thomas Paine to 'T.Paine' when we were discussing an egaliration interpretation of America and didn't understand why the class was laughing.

Six (count em!) six, people told me I looked like Mary Poppins today. One of my teachers told me my skirt (blessed hand me down) was "interesting," which I'm almost ninety eight percent sure she meant as a compliment, and my science teacher stared at my sweater (50s thrifty) for a moment and asked me if I played golf. (I don't.)
This is what I see when I look out my windown now. I really love fall.
Photo credit: Hot Tea, Kate Pulley, Google, Sita Marie, Maureen Dai, Vanessa Jensen, my own