I can't even..

Oh god, I can't even make a blog. My heart is filled with so many loving feelings. And yet, I feel like crying. I watched the entire of the 3 or 4 hours of the Harry Potter livestream on Youtube, and I am moved, happy and so many other things, that it's hard to talk about.

I'd love to chat, but I can't even.. Right now, it's too much.

DFTBA and love Harry Potter <3

Bad day

Rebecca, you are soo lucky! That camp sounds so awesome. I wish there was something like that here. Seriously, I envied you sooo much, when I read it the first time. Enjoy it!

Well, this is a bad day for me - because I've been dreading work all day; I got on the train, finally. The train stopped at every. single. stop. That meant I was a bit late, when I arrived, I went to the staffdoor, which was locked. So not only was I even more late, but people were staring at me, for trying to open a closed gate. Brilliant.

Then I had to walk the entire way back to the grand opening, which costed me a few minutes. then I couldn't find the effing stall! And I ran and ran around the entire place, until I remembered where it was, and went there. When I arrived, no adults were there (which would've been nice, instead of all the cocky teenagers with their I-am-in-charge-so-just-listen-cause-I'm-cooler-and-four-months-older-than-you attitudes) So I was late, and this really bitchy guy (not everyday you meet a such one) and he was all "we arrive here sharp and dressed. Now it's past the time you should have started and you are not dressed" I WAS LATE WITH ONE MINUTE.

There I was, in my - correctly observed - purple sweater, confused and now annoyed with bitchy-boy. Bitchy-boy was continuing being bitchy, and I got more and more upset, because I didn't think I wanted to keep the job anyway, and the stress and bitchy-boy just pushed me over the edge, so instead of going to my shift, I went up and quit. My boss seemed nice about it, so it made me feel better.

I've been thinking about, what kind of job I'd like instead. I'd love to be doing the lazy person's job. Like blogging or writing. But since that is obviously not going to happen (given this is a slow country and .. that would just never happen. And if it did, I'm not born in the lucky-stuff-just-happens-to-me batch)

So, I've figured. I like my small cousins. I could babysit. Or pick up kids from the local kindergarden/club. (I live 500 metres from the club and a kindergarden) - this could happen. I could get a supermarket job (even if it does seem a bit embarrasing)

I don't know why, but I think work is embarrasing. It sounds completely ridicolous, but I never told any of my local friends, because I was afraid they'd come and say hi. Which, in my eyes, is worse than failing to make a candyfloss three times in a row. Which, by the way, did happen. And that was bad.

So now I'm home early, and tomorrow (while I'm waiting for Portal 2 to arrive) I'll be writing applications for various jobs and offer to pick up/entertain kids.

Thursday Top 3 - music edition:

1. Hideous Creatures - Starship

2. Teenage Dream - Glee version (Darren Criss!)

3. Make Your Own Kind Of Music (simply because, it reminds me of Lost)

Oh, and by the way.. A hilarious song title I read was on one of the Lost soundtracks, that I can't get out of my head: "Your kharma hit my Dharma" HA!

DFTBA till next week!

Writing

I believe in a previous blog entry I mentioned that I would be spending two weeks of my summer at a writing camp.  And...uh...well, that's where I am right now.  Fun stuff.  The program is run by the Kenyon Review and is a residential camp that takes place at Kenyon College (which, incidentally, is John's alma mater).  I've only been here for about a day and a half, but I'm already having a lot of fun.

I've made a few friends, that I'll probably start to stick with for most of my time here.  My roommate is (thankfully) pretty nice, and awesome and all that.  I've also hit it off pretty well with a few people from my class group (we remain in one group with the same instructor for all of our classes).

So far I've met two or three nerdfighters (my roommate is one!), a buttload of Harry Potter fans, and two Doctor Who fans.  It's nice to be in a (physical) place where nerdiness is the norm, and eyebrows aren't quirked at "large" words.  It's also great to be in a place where I can talk about how frustrating it is to have insistent characters nagging in my mind while in the middle of another project, and not receive strange looks.

Today (actually, about a half hour ago from when I'm writing this), we got to hear P.F. Kluge talk about writing, and reading, and avoiding starvation while writing and reading.  I've so far only read one short essay by him, but I definitely intend to read a few of his novels.  From that little that I've read, I would definitely recommend him (and that'll just be my recommendation for the day).  He's also really funny.

I do hope that tomorrow there will be a bit more instruction than there was today.  Though I love prompts and free writing, I would love critique (I mean, I wouldn't love hearing it, but I'd love to have the benefit), and learning how to strengthen the areas of my writing that I feel I'm weak in (like dialogue).

I'm also really excited to possibly have the chance to do editorial work here.  An anthology of all the writers' work is going to be compiled, and it is going to be done by people within the camp (another opportunity to meet new people!).  editing is one of the things I'd love to do (along with Journalism and Library Sciences), and having real practical experience would be wonderful (and excellent resumé fodder!).

I have a secondary blog that I've been sitting on, and haven't posted on yet, but even just being here for one day, I've felt so inspired to write.  That blog is (going to be) dedicated to random thought, poetry and prose.  As well as random rants about politics and injustice I'd imagine.  When I actually start posting there I leave a link here.  I'm really hoping that I'll start updating that on a semi-regular basis.  the best way, I've found from being here so far, to be inspired to write and to keep up habitual writing is to just...write.  Constantly.  So that's what I'm vowing to spend this summer doing.  In addition to cleaning my room.

...Maybe.

It's still thursday, right?

I can't believe I forgot it! I actually knew, and it was in my calendar. I have no one to blame.. But Lost. I mean, me. No, Lost.

I'm watching Lost season 5 and it is sooo good. At the end of season four, I was like: wait, what? Nononono, that can't happen!

So I was naturally very eager in getting the next adventures, since everything was just.. chaos, and death, and bombs, and helicopters (not exactly what you expect from a "lost on a deserted island" show, I'm very aware, but it's still so amazing)

My heroes are - both fictional and real - and responsible for the fictional characters.

I wouldn't say any "real" people are my heroes, because sometimes, we are all let down by our families and friends, so I'd rather say, that fictional people are my favorites, and those I look up to. Simply because, I can choose along the road, which people I like and dislike.

JKR is an obvious one. I love her and I love her world, I love how she was able to make other people love her fantasy world as well. It's amazing to accomplish what she has done, and I hope that in my lifetime, I will be able to experience another great, and as big phenomenon. But Harry will always have a special place in my heart.

I love Jane Austen as well; even if I have to argue why every single time I am asked. It's simply because she was brave. Brave and witty, and cultured and precise. The best thing about old books and stories, are the culture. And how different everything is today, from back then.

She dared writing witty and smart stories about the upper society, and how silly she found it. And yet, the irony of, how easy it was for her, a simple woman, to imagine how that kind of life was. Her characters are wellknown, and loved all over the world, 200 years later, which isn't something many people can say. Everyone, everywhere is looking for their own mr. Darcy. Maybe without even knowing; but that man is more a gentleman than any other fictional character ever written.

I love John Green as well, simply because he makes stories that are both witty, hardhitting and he likes weird stuff, entertwines it with his stories and makes it work. Even if it is, as he says, Swedish hiphop, which I can only imagine, is not great. (Since Sweden is the neighbor country, and I think their language is weird and almost Danish, it must sound.. Bad. Since Danish hiphop is bad. Scandinavian logic.) I love his stories and I love that his books are new, and a story we haven't heard before.

I love the Doctor. He's everywhere and anywhere, he has never any time, he has to run, and yet he is the last of the Time Lords, and saves everyone, someway or another. I think he's a great character, with both the young and so, so old nature - from funny to serious in a matter of seconds, and ready to save the day, and bear the responsibility, if something goes wrong. So young and so old, which is making the perfect amount of funny.

I love Harry Potter, because I grew up with him. His worries, angst, friends, experiences, and eventually love. It's still a bit weird to understand, that it ends soon, but I've loved every second of the ride, and considered myself a person, who have stuck with Harry until the very end, from the very beginning. Not his, when the book came out, but from mine. Right from when I could read.

I love Hermione Granger. Because I grew up with her as well, but mostly because I've always considered myself as her. I've seen so much of her in me. She's brave - which I may not be, she's clever and loyal (two things I do consider myself) and she's the kind of girl I'd like to grow up to be.

Very superficially, my newest hero is Daniel Faraday from Lost. He's just so... Cool. And sweet. He was introduced a couple of episodes ago, but he's my new favorite (what with Jack and Locke being totally crazy and power-loving) but Faraday is cool. He reminds me a bit of the Doctor, because of the timetravelling and the ability to understand and explain it. Even if it becomes a bit wibbly-wobbly at times. I love how sweet and forward he is, and I really hope, that there's a good explanation for, why he left his exgirlfriend so suddenly after her incident, because I can't imagine him being evil.

I have a lot of heroes, most superficial, but I could continue all day. So I'll just mention some names of those, who comes to mind: Charlie Pace (Lost), Remus Lupin, Benjamin Linus (Lost) etc.

And one more I'd like to add, which I figured would be too long to add, is Albus Dumbledore. He's just so cool and understanding. And has the best quotes. Oh, man I nearly forgot David Tennant! I hope he'll forgive me.

I actually forgot my graduation from 10th grade yesterday as well. But it's okay, 'cause I didn't really care. Even my mum forgot it, and told me an hour ago. Instead I had a lovely day with Lost on my tv.

That was one VERY long blogpost. Makes up for the short one last thursday. And lack for yesterday. Righ

Heroes

I obviously have a terrible memory.  I meant to update yesterday, I swear!

Anyway: let's talk about Heroes. Or just people that I look up to, whatever.

1) J.K. Rowling: I have to say, aside from my family, Harry Potter has been one of the most consistent parts of my growing up (actually, it might be more consistent than my family).  The presence and dependability of it always being a story I'll enjoy, with characters that I love has been a comfort at times.  Rowling's series has touched me so much, that it really cemented my dream of one becoming an author.  Of course, I might have wanted that before reading the series, and I was definitely an avid reader before I began them, but the level to which Rowling's writing and the world she created was able to draw me in was a real inspiration to my third grader self, and continues to be to my senior-in-high school self today.  Plus, JKR is pretty cool in general.

2)  Sherrod Brown: Brown is an Ohio Senator, and in my opinion is rather awesome.  I've had the opportunity to meet him before, though I was a little kid, but he was very nice.  In fact, I think that might be the thing that sets him apart from a lot of other politicians: he's nice, and he seems to be genuinely honest.  That's refreshing in a politician, especially what seems to be his genuine appreciation and caring of his constituents.  Brown is a person who almost makes me want to be a government official.  But honestly, I don't think I'd fit in.

These are the two that immediately come to mind that I can actually find a fair amount of words to talk about.  Other authors come to mind, particularly Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, and, of course, John Green.  Nellie Bly, the investigative journalist is rather badass, and I suggested reading about her, because she was really cool.  And also Rachel Maddow, who I deeply admire and would totally love to work for/intern for someday, if at all possible.  There's also the feminists Gloria Steinem, Jessica Valenti and Lucy Stone (though Stone would probably count more as a "suffragette").  Steinem started Ms. Magazine, another place I think it would be cool to work/intern at.  There's also my seventh- and eight-grade English teacher who set me on the path of being interested in journalism, and aspiration that the above mentioned Rachel Maddow has only perpetuated.

I think it's important to stop and think of the people who have influenced us, or that we look up to.  Even if it's an incredibly cheesy thing to say/do.

My recommendation is the film The Hours, it's also a book, about Virginia Woolf and her novel Mrs. Dalloway. But as I've never actually read either book (though I do intend to), the movie is what I am suggesting.

Zoos and animal rights

I don't consider myself an animal rights activist either, but I believe that all animals should be treated with respect. It is the owner who chooses to get an animal, the animal does not choose you.

I enjoy going to the Zoo, given that I like animals, as long as they're not forced to do anything or are sad.

I was in Berlin Zoo about 10 months ago, and I saw Knut, and he was very cute. But there was one of the polar bears who didn't look happy, but kept walking back and forth, which worried my family and I. We weren't sure if it was Knut, but I felt really sorry for the poor polarbear anyway.

My dad later on told me it was because it was bored and didn't know what to do, but I'm not entirely sure. I still don't know.

That is the only negative experience I've ever had in a Zoo, but the rest of the day in Berlin Zoo was actually good - they had this fence, and inside it was open for goats, geese and ducks to walk around as they pleased, and horses and donkeys were in cages, but it was all good, because they had loads of fans and attention (majority of those were 7 year old girls and me)

But it was a good Zoo, and we even saw animals I didn't know and a hippopotamus baby.

I'm not a vegetarian yet, but as soon as I'm a legally adult, I will pursue vegetarianism. I think it's important to stand up against animal cruelty, which is also why I am against real leather and fur.

I don't mind fake fur, leather, feathers etc, but killing animals should not be a fashion choice.

Thursday top 3:

1. Tickets to Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2

2. Weekend at my Grandma's

3. Tea.

Zoos! (Fake Enthusiasm)

You know what I'll never understand?  Why people love the zoo so much.  I suppose I might have liked it as a kid, but as far as I can remember, the most fun I've had at a zoo was at the petting zoo and in a butterfly house.  I like animals out where I can touch them, or be close to them, and while I don't think I'd necessarily want to be within touching distance of, say, a lion, it also doesn't seem particularly entertaining to just stand there and watch them lie around looking sad.

Maybe this is the 'animal rights' 'activist' coming out in me, though I don't normally consider myself an animal rights activist.  (Though I am a vegetarian, but that's a blog entry for another day, I think.)  It just seems unbearably mean to take an animal from their natural habitat and place them in a cage, or a glass box.  Of course, many animals in zoos were actually rescued animals, so i hardly want to accuse zoos of mass cruelty.  It just seems like an incredibly boring life, and an incredibly boring way to spend the day.

I bet the people who work at the zoos (presuming they like animals of curse) do actually have a lot of fun though.  I think it must be incredible to work with animals all day.  And while this is not something I plan to do, or even want to do with my life, I do feel a bit jealous of people who get to work with animals for a living.

And in keeping with my theme, I'm going to recommend the book The Nature of Jade.  The book features a main character who loves watching the elephants in the nearby zoo, and (possible spoiler?) eventually begins working with them.  That isn't what the book is about, but regardless, it is a beautifully written story and I really enjoyed reading it.

P.S.  Who else loved the Doctor Who mid-season finale?

Insert clever title

I refuse to not make a blog. So it'll be a mostly empty blog.

Rebecca, I totally agree with you on the topic of sex scandals. If you must be unfaithful, do it properly. No, that wasn't your conclusion, I just thought that, if you must, you need to be the best.

I don't know. It's quite low moral, but why not be good, instead of fail?

Now I think of that guy, Strauss-Kahn for being discovered as well. That wasn't very smart. I'm not sure what happened, so I'll just stop now. I know nothing of that stuff.

Tomorrow, after my exam, I'll catch a train (literally; I'm that awesome) with two of my superstrong friends, and we'll ride on its back all the way to Copenhagen where we'll hang out, have fun, maybe even visit Copenhagen's infamous dragon Zoo and we'll probably go shopping and use waaay too much money. I don't know what we'll do yet, but it will involve laughing, funny/sweet movies and fun times.

Oh, I have nothing this week. Sorry you guys.

I'll see you next week! Oh, and wish me luck on my exam tomorrow! :)

*Comes Out of the Woodwork*

So...uh... I don't remember if I had a decent excuse for missing last Monday, but yesterday I was busy studying for finals.  Better late than never?

What to talk about? Sex scandals? That just popped into my head, because recently the (unfortunately named) Senator Anthony Wiener has confessed that he has shared explicit photographs and conversations with multiple women over the past few years who are all decidedly not his wife.  It's really rather aggravating how long the list of Congressmen/politicians who have had either illicit, inappropriate or illegal relations has grown to.  Without even getting into the politics of it, doesn't this just fail at a moral level?

Sure, our elected officials are supposed to reflect their constituents opinions, but shouldn't they also be able to set an example by keeping it in their pants?  Or actually following the law (there are one or two that were engaged in prostitution, another harassing underage women, another coercing an employee into an affair, another covering up his love child using campaign money - WTF)?  Maybe that's just too much to ask for.

Anyway, venturing into politics now, if they can't manage to keep it in their pants, and (as most of them are married) keep from engaging in an affair, how exactly is homosexuality threatening the "sanctity of marriage"?  It's completely and disgustingly hypocritical, especially as one of the strongest anti-gay marriage (male) senators was caught with a rentboy. To be fair, not all of the offenders on that very long list of people engaged in sex-related scandal are homophobic or speak out against gay marriage, but many of them still purported to believe in 'family values'.  It's all very screwy (Pun intended? Maybe.)

Anyway, rant over.  I recommend watch the TV show Merlin.  It's a fairly good show, and almost always amusing.  Plus, it's British.

.... *looks around*

... Hello? Hellooooo? So, are anyone here, or am I ruling this by myself? *smiles*

Anyway, even if I did have the blog for myself, I wouldn't know what to write.

So, exams are getting closer. And I dont actually know what day I'm going. Sooo, I have to call my school one of the days. My country is a bit patriotic (I can't seem to understand why), but it's made like, that I can't use any material that's been translated from English, which sucks, given my topic was "evil in older novels". I wanted to use either Hamlet or Snow White. But my teacher wouldn't let me do that. So I'm stuck with H. C. Andersen's The Snow Queen. I didn't know that fairytale before I had to read it for exam (btw, that is a bad idea).. I hate that fairytale. No offence, to you, if you like it, but Gerda spends the ENTIRE SUMMER listening to the flowers' fairytales, then it gets autumn and she's like: golly! I forgot! I have to find Kay!

And then, of course she finds him. Although, I still don't see The Snow Queen as evil. I mean, yes, it would suck to get an evil mirror in the eye, and heart, but isn't that just pessimism?

I could go on with that for a while. But one more thing. The part where I'm not allowed to use English stuff. What is up with my teacher saying it's okay to use the Bible? (I'm an atheist. And I'm sorry, if I've crossed you - really)

.. But The Bible shouldn't be an exception. I think it's either no translated stuff at all, or all kinds of translated material. It must be one way or another.

Anyone else just got that song stuck in your heads?

.... Onwards.

My baby cousin (girl) and my smaller baby cousin (boy) is coming over this weekend, for me (and my mum to babysit them) - It's a bit funny how English hasn't got any gender-cousin stuff. I can't wait! They're both so cute, and it'll be a blast!

I've never been the sort of person who'd go: oh-my-god-this-band-is-making-a-new-album-and-I-gotta-have-it, but now I can't wait for Chameleon Circuit's Still Got Legs and Lauren Fairweather's The Prince's Tale.

I think that's it for me.

My thursday top 3:

1. A Good Man Goes to War is only in a couple of days!

2. The birthday I have to go to, tomorrow. This means friends, good times and a reason to dress up.

3. Tea. Just because. And the packages I'm waiting for to arrive. And Starkid soundtracks. At the same time.

.. I hope I'll see ya'll next week, kay? It's a big blog to keep for one.

I am also extremely excited for summer. I have 5 more school days left (technically 8, but I'll be gone for 3 of them) and then I'm done with high school. Woo!

I don't really have any major plans for the summer. My main plan is to relax as much as possible and spend a ton of time with my friends before we all leave for college. There will be many graduation parties in the next few weeks and many going away parties in August and many days for just sitting around in the sunshine together.

I'm also trying to find a job for this summer. Not sure where I'm going to work because I'm still working on getting hired. I've been applying to a lot of places recently, so hopefully someone will hire me soon.

I guess there will also be quite a bit of packing and getting ready to move out and go to college. And the college I'm going to has a pre-orientation backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park, which I might go on and would be really amazing and exciting. I'm not so sure about how I feel about the whole living in the wilderness thing, but spending a week in Yosemite does sound pretty incredible.

Anyway, I think those are my main plans for this summer. My recommendation for this week is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I'm only part of the way through it, but it's really good so far.

Summer plans!

First: happy late birthday, Emily!

Today my study-preparation holiday-ish thing started, and I have two exams next months, "graduation" and then summer. I'm going to work in a theme park all summer in an icecream/candy/sweets store/booth.

Which is going to be hard, but I'll get experience, which is the main reason to do it. Other than that, I hope I'll get a tan (I always manage to get a tan in my face, while the rest of my body remains winter-pale) and read loads of books (and I'll love some good recommendations!)

I don't have other plans, actually. We're not travelling this year, so I'll get plenty of time to prepare myself for the new school, which is going to be hard. But I am actually excited, which I think is vital for you to enjoy it.

I hope I'll get to watch Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 on opening night in Denmark (it's 13th of july here) - not sure if it's possible, since it'll be midnight, Copenhagen is .. fairly big and I have no place to go to afterwards. And no one to go with.

I think that's all from me!

Oh, and did anyone see Teefury's Stare Contest Doctor Who t-shirt last week? I bought it. Like a boss.

DFTBA (:

SUMMER! yay!

Don't you guys love those days where you walk outside and it's surprisingly warm and sunny? I LIVE for those days in the spring. And now it's summer! YAY! I feel like a little kid, saying "yay, it's summer" all the time.

By the way, happy early birthday Emily!

I hate to rub it in, but I'm done with school! My last final was on Friday, which was why I didn't post last week. I was studying so much. Ugh, it was awful.

This summer, I am nannying. I'm going to be sharing this job with my sister, and we'll switch off days or something like that. (I don't know if I told you guys, but I have a twin named Allie.) It's a family of three boys (jeez) and it's going to be about 20 hours per week, I think. I don't even like babysitting in general, so I'm not sure how this will work out. I'm just hoping to make some money.

My family takes a few trips every summer, and this year we are going to Yellowstone and Montana with my cousins. We're renting a house and staying in Big Sky. It's going to be gorgeous and I'm looking forward to shopping and hiking and other fun stuff. I'm really excited for this trip.

I'm also going to spend a week with my grandparents in Minnesota. They live on a lake, so we can go kayaking, swimming, and sailing. It's really nice.

I'm really looking forward to Deathly Hollows Part 2, as well! I'm going to go to the midnight premiere, since I couldn't go to the first one. Unfortunately for many of my friends that went to the Part 1 midnight premiere, a lot of the scenes broke and they didn't get to see it. They were so mad, but the theater gave them tons of free passes, so that calmed them down. I was kind of glad that I didn't try to go to the midnight showing. I would have been so disappointed (and tired) if I had.

My Recommendation: the show Parks and Recreation. I love this show. It's hilarious and it's my new obsession.

DFTBA :)

Summer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY :) (Just pretend it's Wednesday) (Also, I hope you're feeling better)

Summer is almost here, which is pretty awesome. I have two weeks left of school, which is also kind of strange, because this year has gone by so slowly (and it still feels like it's going slowly with 8 or 9 days left). I think this is the summer I'm looking forward to the most out of summers past, for many a reason.

1) In general, I'm looking for summer purely for what I'm planning on doing during the summer, instead of just relief to be out of school (okay, not purely)

2) I might be able to go down to Florida in June to visit Universal (by which I mean the Harry Potter theme park), because my mom has a plane ticket voucher she might not be able to use, and a cousin (or relative of some sort) who happens to live in Florida (which I didn't actually know until I jokingly suggested going to Florida - I never expect she'd take me even kinda seriously).

3) As mentioned previously (I think, somewhere) I'm going to be at Kenyon for a two week writing program, hopefully developing/fine-tuning my fictional writing technique. I'm excited to be going away from home (by which I mean the place, and also the people), and to meet new people who have at least one major thing in common with me. (It would also be pretty cool if I found a nerdfighter there)

4) I'm spending most of July (I think) in California with my dad, who I haven't seen in months. I'm excited to see my dad again, but also to see the rest of his side of the family (most of it anyway). Also, California is pretty and cool, and my dad is currently in the San Francisco Bay area. Also, Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out in July. I'm looking forward to this (in a bittersweet kind of way, because it means the end of Harry Potter stuff release -- at least for the near future)

5) Band Camp for Marching Band is in August, and as a senior, I get to help run the show. Marching Band is tiring and time consuming, but it is also fun and full of (for the most part) awesome people. I'm hoping that, even with the additional stress of running things, the ability to have more creative control and the knowledge that it's my last hurrah, will make Marching Band in the year to come extremely fun.

Recommendation: for (relatively- to majorly-obsessed) Harry Potter fans, the website virtual-hogwarts.org, which is a very thorough RPing site that takes place in the Wizarding World. (I am not a representative of the site. Anyone who wants to join should read all of the Rules and Guideline first :)

Au Revoir!

Musings of an Almost-Adult

Sorry that I wasn't able to post on Friday. I've been sick and have spent the past two days on the couch watching about 2397532 episodes of 30 Rock because that was all I was physically and mentally capable of doing.

Anyway, my 18th birthday is this Wednesday. It's pretty exciting, but also pretty mind blowing. I mean, I'm going to be an adult.

How did this happen?

All my life, adults have seemed like these super mature, sophisticated, wise people who know what they're doing, but now I'm going to be one and I am none of those things. I feel like I'm supposed to be able to become a functioning member of society at this point and learn about jobs and taxes and voting and such, yet I really just want to curl up in a blanket and watch Disney movies.

But most people probably feel the same way. Maybe not exactly the same, but I can't be the only almost-18-year-old who doesn't feel like an adult. I guess that's just how it goes. We'll all get thrust into the real world whether we're ready or not, and we'll do whatever we can to make it. The adults I know seem to have turned out all right through all of that, so I guess I've got a chance.

So my recommendation is the show 30 Rock. It may seem a bit odd at first, but it's pretty fantastic and hilarious. And I watched an entire season of it in a day. I don't even know how many episodes I watched this weekend, but they were all incredible.

Eurovision

I think I should explain Eurovision, 'cause one of my American friends, didn't know what it was. All European countries makes a contest in each of their own country a few months before the big finale. During the "audition", the viewers votes for those they want to represent their country at the finale.

The finale is a two months later, or so. It's a HUGE thing in Europe, loads of people fly to the place it's held (the previous year's winner's country gets to host Eurovision) and then all the countries perform, then voting, entertainment, reveal of the votings and then the winner is found, where they go to stage and perform their song again. Then end credits.

I normally stay away from Eurovision Song Contest, but I thought it was funny to look at my Twitter Feed at the same time (which is why I ended up watching the entire thing)

And that made me think about how Europe comes united that one night. People cheer and have oads of fun with their family and friends, singing along, cheering for the good ones, and laugh at the bad ones, and make fun at the really bad ones. It's a lovely 3 hours, and loads of fun. If you don't believe me, you should all watch Moldova's entry this year. Oh, and while you're there, you should check out the Danish one this year. It's actually good. And by actually, I mean, sometimes it's really rubbish.

We've sent a drag once, with the song "I'm your dramaqueen tonight"... I think it speaks for itself. I'm not opposed to drags at all, but I can't believe Denmark were watching ESC a couple of years ago and thought "hmm, this song is the best out of ten... Or, at least, we'll have a ball, and Europe will find it amusing" (It worked, we reached semifinal)

This year, Azerbaijan won. It is a small country in the Eastern Europe. And because so few knows where that is, it sounds a bit like, that we don't care.

The songs are easily forgotten, admitted. But when we unite as a continent, we must remember, that making "too much fun" where it just ends up being hated. Of course, it can be done classy, as long as it's nice. But why unite, if we unite as in "you and me, vs. them"

It would be lovely, if Europe, over the next years of Eurovision would come together and just have fun, as we're supposed to. And make better songs.

Rebecca, I hope your prom was as much fun as it sounded like, and good luck on Tech Week, which I still haven't got a clue, what is about.

My recommendation this week is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. It was witty, weird (good weird) and I personally like stories, where the main character changes.

DFTBA till next week

Tech, Prom, and Joss Whedon

Hell Week is here! Well, Tech Week, actually, but that's just a technicality (pun somewhat intended). Anyway, my school's Drama Club is putting on a production of Twelve Angry Men (although, really it's Twelve Angry People, because of the female performers, but that's another technicality) at the end of the week, and I am running lights for it (which I'm pretty exited about, I get to wear a headset!). But since this is the week of the play and all, everything is going to be hectic, and I'm going to be getting home at ridiculous hours (I left at 7:45, which is actually an extremely reasonable time for Tech Week [of course, I didn't have to stay to change and hear notes, so I don't know when everyone else left]). Tech Week is always very tiring and full of tension and stress, but it is also wonderful in some ways. It's really a great opportunity to spend time with people I might not otherwise associate with on a regular basis. And while the cast generally has months to get used to one another, typically the crew is only there for one or two week. But even in that short time the people who contribute to each production (in whatever way) start to become a (really effed up) family. I also think helping with Tech form plays and performances is really fun. All of the stress and hard work ultimately pays off during the show (although this is often even more tense and stress filled than the rest of the week, albeit tempered with excitement and happiness and pride and such).

This weekend was also Prom for me, which was pretty fun. I actually only ended up deciding to go to Prom early on in the week preceding it, so I ended up going in an old Homecoming dress. It was an enjoyable time, and I really appreciated the extra time to spend with my senior friends who will, sadly, be leaving soon. I even got to dance with my crush (though only with the prodding of their sister...)! And I went to IHOP afterwards with a bunch of friends and got to wolf down chocolate-chip pancakes while talking about feminism (and Firefly a bit) (this definitely says something about my friends and I; apparently it is perfectly normal for us to have an intense discussion about feminism at 1 in the morning after Prom over pancakes). We (well, the driver) managed to get lost on the way to IHOP, which was fun (if slightly concerning at one point).

Also, I started and finished Firefly (and Serenity as well) this week, which was pretty ruttin' good. I really like Joss Whedon's writing (though, unfortunately, I have been instructed not to watch Buffy, a verdict which I am planning on challenging soon), and am immensely sad that the show was canceled, because it had potential. Though I really wish there were subtitles for the Mandarin. (Oh, for people who don't know, Firefly is a Sci-Fi western about a bunch of [nine] space-traveling outlaws on board a spaceship called Serenity [which is a Firefly model]) I have also started watching Dollhouse, which is ridiculously creepy, but (so far) is also pretty good. And while it's been a while since I've watched it, I should mention Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog which is brilliantly hilarious (and sort of sad, because Whedon likes the Anyone Can Die trope a bit too much). Anyway, I should conclude this messy paragraph by recommending everything mentioned in it (yes, this includes Buffy, even though I have only seen one episode. Enjoy it for me.)

P.S. Sorry for the rambly, spastic nature that I am sensing this post has turned into (or, indeed, started off as). I am trying to keep it short this week, in hopes of getting decent sleep, but I apparently can't do short (without a bunch of parenthetical asides) and poor transitions. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself. I will now stop thinking aloud (or through text, whatever. Technicality).

VWORP VWORP VWORP

I'm really happy about how this season of Doctor Who is turning out. I don't even know how to express how awesome it is. It's magnificent and I hope it stays that way.

I find it hard to theorize about the show because anything I come up with is probably too simple for Moffat. When it comes to River, I have no idea what she could be. I feel like Moffat is hiding something big, and we'll never know what it is until he tells us. I think this is why I'm really unsure of how I feel about how the relationship between the Doctor and River is shaping up. I love how we're finally getting to know River more as a person and I love how they interact now, but at the same time I feel like this relationship is too simple. So far it's just a sad timey-wimey romance story, and it would be boring for them to just continue in this direction because we know exactly where it leads. Predictable stories are boring.

I guess we still have to find out about who she kills. I feel like it might have been future River in the astronaut suit killing the Doctor, but maybe not. My other idea is that she kills Rory, but I really don't want that happen. The poor guy has already died enough times. He deserves a break.

Amy's sort-of-pregnancy is blowing my mind even more. My best guess is that the Silence did something strange to her while they kept her captive and impregnated her, and because the Silence are so strange, the pregnancy scanner can't figure out what the heck is going on. Or perhaps they put some Doctor DNA into her womb and are trying to grow a partially time lord pilot for their pseudo-TARDIS, and the little time-head girl is the result of that. Somehow.

And then there's eye-patch lady. I don't even know what to think of her. Sorry if this is seeming a bit rambley and scattered. There is just so much confusion in this season and I love it. My mind tends to just shout jibberish whenever I try to wrap my head around things. Everything is insane and mind-blowing and exciting. I can't wait to find out what's really going on. And I can't wait for tomorrow's episode written by Neil Gaiman.

Speaking of Neil Gaiman, my recommendation for this week is Stardust, which is written by him. I feel like I may have suggested this before, but whatever. It's still an adorable book. I finally finished it tonight and it's so cute. There's also a movie based of it, and it's one of the few that's pretty much as good as the book.

Also, I recently introduced my dad to Doctor Who, and I just caught him walking around saying, "Are you my mummy?" Makes me proud. :)

Yay, Doctor Who!

Not that long time ago, I rambled about Harry Potter, and this time I get to talk about Doctor Who, my second huge fandom.

I love the Doctor Who fanbase. The fans are all loving the show, pointing out questions, making up theories, trying to tie knots together. It's so nice and I love being a part of it all.

I make theories as well, and this will be the spoiler part.

1. I think that the girl who regenerated in the street at the end of Day Of The Moon (which by the way, was an amazing episode) is a regenerated Jenny. The William Hartnell to Matt Smith (agewise) would be able to work (Derek Jacobi/John Simm, anyone?)Georgia Moffett, the actress who originally portrayed Jenny was pregnant at the time, so they needed a new incarnation of her anyway.*
2. That was my original thought. Then I saw a blogpost somewhere, with them looking on IMDB, and (I'm not making it up; this is the info I saw) that Lucy Saxon will return - as the little girl. I think Steven Moffat's incredible imagination would be able to make it all fit together, so I won't rule that out either.
3. The Eye-Patch Lady is from the future. In Day of the Moon, she says "I think she's dreaming" or something. In E3, where Amy sees her again, she was sleeping. I think the next time we'll see her, will be when Amy's panicking or something.
4. I have no idea who River is. I keep hoping (until opposite prove) that they're not married. It's too boring. But of course, River really loves this man. Hopefully, we get to see soon, when the Doctor knows her fully, and understands who she is.
5. I have no idea, who really was in the spacesuit when The Doctor got killed in the first episode. If it really was Lucy, then I would have no clue whatsoever. Nor River. That would make no sense. Although, it would fit. It could be for his own safety. I just hope, there'll be a way to make the Doctor live.

And those were my thoughts. Loads of them.

My recommendation AVPM. You have seen them, AND FINALLY SO HAVE I. Can't believe I've missed out on so much fun!

DFTBA till next week :D

Doctor Who!

Yes! We are talking about Doctor Who. I have been waiting for this day to come. But, I haven't been watching Doctor Who for very long, so I must apologize for my limited knowledge. Plus, I missed last week's episode!

Anyway, this season seems to be getting more confusing every episode. The Silence is really creepy too.

Theories: This if probably very far-fetched, but I think that maybe the child is Rory and Amy's child. Amy and the Doctor were talking about how, if Amy was pregnant, the child might be affected by the time travel in some way. It's also possible that River is Amy's baby.

I was really freaked out by the River/Doctor kiss too! It just kind of came out of nowhere! I knew that they were a couple, but I was not expecting it. This hope is kind of diminished now, since Rory and Amy are together, but last season, I was really hoping Amy and the Doctor would get together. That's never going to happen though.

My favorite quote from the Doctor: "I'm being extremely clever up here, and there's no one standing around looking impressed! What is the point in having you all?" :)

Recommendation: sparkling blood orange soda. It's really good.

I'm sorry this is so short. DFTBA :)