Heute

Today I....

--Went to swim practice, but my coach never showed up, so I went home.
--Watched the latest episode of The Office.
--Took my sister to her choir concert, then spent an hour or so roaming around downtown Gallatin with her.
--Went to an art sale...and bought a painting.
--Watched Seven Pounds. Good movie.
--Wrote my last college essay. YES!
--Got through a unit in physics.

Snaps for being productive.
Also, I'm really excited about my painting. I will post a picture of it sooner or later.

Gauging My Thoughts

Brother Kinman: And what book did John write? Revelations. .....
Me: Revelation.
Heath: Are you one of those people who just has to be right about everything?
Me: No, but they won't accept Revelations in quiz bowl.


Yes, this is how I think about [almost] everything.

Ouch, that really hurt

I was running into the YMCA the other day (Hurry, quick! Get there before they lock the doors!!), when the sidewalk suddenly dropped to a lower elevation. I didn't notice this, and so I stumbled over my ankle, and landed on it sideways.

"Ouch, that really hurt, Charlie!"

I don't even know where that came from, what caused me to say that, or why I said it, but I said that...in a British accent. So I continued running to the YMCA, laughing as I did so and getting weird looks from people as I ran past them.

Now my ankle is sore, and I feel kind of dumb about the whole situation.

But that is a funny YouTube video.

Senior Quote

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates life."

--Oscar Wilde

Each of the seniors at our school had to submit a quote that they liked or felt defined them. I forgot to submit one in time, so my teacher gave me a sheet to fill out and told me to turn it in at the end of the block. Frantically racking my brain for some quote, any quote, I had no idea what to put down--like I memorize quotes. European dictators, artists, Shakespeare works, and Norwegian playwrights, yes, but not quotes. Just then I heard this guy say the above quote. Twas ever so convenient, seeing as how I love this quote and find it to be so true.

Isolation

I was talking to this kid the other day in APUSH, and somehow we (or rather he) started talking about the differing concepts of isolation. The one--solitude--is generally seen in a favorable light, a desired reprieve from the maddening world around you. The other--loneliness--is seen as something to be pitied or avoided; a state worthy of one's sympathy. Regardless of whether we wanted to or not, humans have differentiated between these two identical ideas. They're on the opposite end of the spectrum despite their synonymous nature.

This concept really fascinated me because it's so true. I love how we, as humans, throughout history, have taken two synonyms and twisted their connotations so drastically that it completely changes our perception of the words' meanings. I had never thought of it before. It shows how we can manipulate the English language and as a result manipulate emotion, thoughts, and other aspects of the world around us.

Personally, I have always been one to value the peacefulness of quiet solitude. I crave time to myself, to hear myself think, to not be disturbed by anyone or anything. I think it stems from my up-bringing in a relatively large family. There is hardly ever a dull or quiet moment.

Moving to Tennessee....well, I've learned that loneliness and solitude can co-exist.

Oh--and happy Halloween.

Confession

I was laying on the couch, trying to decide if I wanted to work on physics or AP US history....and I decided that I wanted to blog.

I went to the Vanderbilt quiz bowl tournament. It was horribly unorganized and our team didn't do very well. (It was 80% of my team's first tournament. Cut us some slack.)

But just being there and playing--hearing a question about Tetzel and another about Gustavus Adolphus--made me nostalgic for Michigan. I miss my team there. I miss working with them, winning with them, losing with them, laughing with them. My team here is fine, I like the people....but it's not the same. It's really difficult for me to adjust to a new team. It's a new feeling, a new experience. I'm not entirely sure I like it so much.

I find myself relating to Holden Caulfield quite a bit lately. Minus the whole "excessive swearing" bit....Ahhh, angstangstangst!!!

A Poem

I should write poetry

‘Tis easy as two, three.

I’ll write using couplets,

Then throw everyone off when I don’t rhyme

Or maintain a regular metre.

(Yes, the British spelling.)

And all conventional aspects of poetry

Will never be the same again.

What will all the critics say then?