This week has been very frustrating. For multiple reasons. Including people. And mendacity. Heavens above, I feel like Brick, Betram Pincus, and George Bailey all meshed into one. I hate this society that I'm in, this world that is just so...bound. I could very easily be a hermit, someone who avoids or just doesn't make contact with other people. Why do people have to be so disappointing? (I believe MasterTheory blogged about this...)
But anyway I saw The Spirit and I really liked it. It's a neo-noir and films noir are my favorite, neo or regular. I have also discovered that Gabriel Macht is lethal when he speaks French.
Christmas was fun. We did Meals on Wheels Christmas morning which is an organization that delivers meals to people in Detroit who are home-bound, mainly elderly people. It was an interesting experience and just reiterates the fact that I'm lucky to live in the place I do.
Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thanks...
...to Andrea G. for the new layout. I love it. And I think it's super cool that she knows how to do stuff like this. Thanks a bunch!
(p.s. When did you want to have an Office marathon??)
(p.s. When did you want to have an Office marathon??)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hmm...
I'm tired and I don't want to go to swim practice. But I skipped yesterday so I figure I should go today. It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged and just a few minutes ago I was reading my friend Samantha's blog. She had this link off to the side that was entitled "seven exciting posts" or something along those lines. So I was reading through all of them and there was this one post that really got me thinking. On it, she had posted this question:
If you were not born or raised into the religion you grew up with, would you still be a member of that church?
The answer to that question would probably be: no. There are only about (give or take a few thousand) twelve million Mormons worldwide. That's not even one-tenth of one percent of the world's population. Besides, I have already decided that if I wasn't Mormon, I would probably be agnostic. Or Amish. That would definitely be up there on my list. [Atheists just seem so extreme to me (I don't know why but that's just my mental picture).] However, in growing up Mormon I have come to appreciate my religion. Many people would say that my religion's standards are too restricting; they don't let you have fun or whatever. But this is the way I see it: are the things that my church advises us not to do really "fun" or is that the world's (or even the media's) definition of fun? Do you have to participate in certain activities to enjoy life to the fullest or be accepted? I'm pretty sure I'm not missing out on much by not drinking alcohol, smoking, or doing drugs. In living the standards of my church (e.g. dressing modestly, following the Word of Wisdom, being charitable, etc.) it has helped me to become a better person. I'm not saying that I'm this great person who's practically perfect because I absolutely do not think that at all. But in being a member of my church, I think it's just really opened my eyes to things that I wouldn't have seen or noticed otherwise. For example, many people believe that the Earth was created by the Big Bang. Well I'm not going to lie, I don't know if there was some massive explosion and our Earth was created but one thing I do know is that our world just seems too complicated, too convenient, to have just been an accident. (Just in case you didn't know, I don't really believe in "accidents" unless it's like bumping into someone in the hall.)
Overall, I'm grateful for my religion and the role it plays in my life. A lot of people argue that your religion has nothing to do with the person you are. I respectfully disagree.
If you were not born or raised into the religion you grew up with, would you still be a member of that church?
The answer to that question would probably be: no. There are only about (give or take a few thousand) twelve million Mormons worldwide. That's not even one-tenth of one percent of the world's population. Besides, I have already decided that if I wasn't Mormon, I would probably be agnostic. Or Amish. That would definitely be up there on my list. [Atheists just seem so extreme to me (I don't know why but that's just my mental picture).] However, in growing up Mormon I have come to appreciate my religion. Many people would say that my religion's standards are too restricting; they don't let you have fun or whatever. But this is the way I see it: are the things that my church advises us not to do really "fun" or is that the world's (or even the media's) definition of fun? Do you have to participate in certain activities to enjoy life to the fullest or be accepted? I'm pretty sure I'm not missing out on much by not drinking alcohol, smoking, or doing drugs. In living the standards of my church (e.g. dressing modestly, following the Word of Wisdom, being charitable, etc.) it has helped me to become a better person. I'm not saying that I'm this great person who's practically perfect because I absolutely do not think that at all. But in being a member of my church, I think it's just really opened my eyes to things that I wouldn't have seen or noticed otherwise. For example, many people believe that the Earth was created by the Big Bang. Well I'm not going to lie, I don't know if there was some massive explosion and our Earth was created but one thing I do know is that our world just seems too complicated, too convenient, to have just been an accident. (Just in case you didn't know, I don't really believe in "accidents" unless it's like bumping into someone in the hall.)
Overall, I'm grateful for my religion and the role it plays in my life. A lot of people argue that your religion has nothing to do with the person you are. I respectfully disagree.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Probably the Best Feeling Ever...
...is when you're on JV quiz bowl and you try out for Varsity quiz bowl and you actually make it on the starting line up for the B team. Yes, I am officially on varsity quiz bowl. For one tournament. But hey, I made it. YES!
Just thought I'd share a moment of pure ecstasy with my limited readers. :)
Just thought I'd share a moment of pure ecstasy with my limited readers. :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Weight of a Polar Bear
It was a brisk autumn day. It wasn’t warm outside but neither was it frigid. The trees had lost their leaves and they crunched softly beneath our feet as we walked on the asphalt. There was the slightest breeze blowing so softly it barely rustled my hair; it had no effect on the trees, they stood still and silent as if they were prematurely frozen. My brother Luke and I were walking towards Twelve Oaks Mall to buy my mother a Christmas present. We were both wearing hoodies, our hands were shoved deep into the middle pocket to ward our fingers off from the cold. Needless to say, we were unsuccessful. We chatted back and forth about possible ideas for presents. I suggested we get her something from Yankee Candle, and Luke went on to recommend we get her a scarf or some other winter accessory. We were entering the mall through the food court entrance. Luke said something entertaining and I laughed with him. As I finished my laughter someone approached me and tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned to see a teenage boy, as was obvious from the pink polo he wore with no jacket, his baseball hat, and facial features. He was unfamiliar and I did not recognize him. His face was impassive but there was a certain mischievous humor in his eyes.
“Excuse me,” he said politely, although I was sure he was laughing on the inside, “but do you know how much a polar bear weighs?”
This confrontation befuddled me; it was all so sudden and unexpected. My mind instantly began racing. What is this? Why is he asking me this? Is this a survey? Or is he sincerely asking me for some unknown reason? Why does he even want to know? Do I even know? Am I supposed to know? I don’t have a clue, maybe they weigh somewhere between five hundred to a thousand pounds? I honestly have no idea. But why is he asking me? I’ve never seen him before…right?
I am not very articulate, especially when put on the spot, so of course my answer came stumbling out of my shaking mouth.
“I don’t know,” I replied. My face was cherry red and in my shyness I had difficulty making eye contact with him.
“Just enough to break the ice,” he said, a taunting smile breaking forth onto his face.
He stuck out his hand and somewhere inside of my brain, a signal was supposed to travel down to my hand to tell it to shake his. But in my bewilderment, combined with busy nonsensical thoughts flooding my mind, my hand remained at my side as if it were dead. My only response was my face going even redder, if possible.
I must have looked clumsy and ignorant.
“No? That’s OK,” he said. And then he was gone. It all happened in a matter of only a minute or so but it was by far the longest minute-or-so of my life. I watched the receding figure of the boy and the redness slowly began to leave my face. I turned around to see Luke smiling, forcing the laughter back.
“What's so funny?” I asked.
“Emaline,” he said, “do you realize that guy just used a pick-up line on you?” “What? No he didn’t.” I denied even the thought. I was still somewhere between mortified and bewildered. Even as Luke said it to me, though, I realized that I had heard that line before.
“Yeah, he did,” he nodded to emphasize his point and the laughter escaped him then. I smiled in spite of myself and shook my head as Luke continued to enjoy himself at my expense.
We continued walking into the mall and the confrontation had perked my paranoia. I was alert; my head was constantly turning at every little thing. I was afraid of another incident. Of course I knew I was being ridiculous. I even told myself that as we walked through the mall window shopping and browsing. I expected something else to happen, a sort of follow-up. I knew, somewhere in the back of my mind, that nothing would happen. However, I was being afraid of practically nothing. It doesn't take much of anything to scare me.
Since that incident I have learned the appropriate response for any future inquiries as to the weight of a polar bear: male or female?
So this was a memoir I turned in for an English class. Just thought I'd share :)
I turned to see a teenage boy, as was obvious from the pink polo he wore with no jacket, his baseball hat, and facial features. He was unfamiliar and I did not recognize him. His face was impassive but there was a certain mischievous humor in his eyes.
“Excuse me,” he said politely, although I was sure he was laughing on the inside, “but do you know how much a polar bear weighs?”
This confrontation befuddled me; it was all so sudden and unexpected. My mind instantly began racing. What is this? Why is he asking me this? Is this a survey? Or is he sincerely asking me for some unknown reason? Why does he even want to know? Do I even know? Am I supposed to know? I don’t have a clue, maybe they weigh somewhere between five hundred to a thousand pounds? I honestly have no idea. But why is he asking me? I’ve never seen him before…right?
I am not very articulate, especially when put on the spot, so of course my answer came stumbling out of my shaking mouth.
“I don’t know,” I replied. My face was cherry red and in my shyness I had difficulty making eye contact with him.
“Just enough to break the ice,” he said, a taunting smile breaking forth onto his face.
He stuck out his hand and somewhere inside of my brain, a signal was supposed to travel down to my hand to tell it to shake his. But in my bewilderment, combined with busy nonsensical thoughts flooding my mind, my hand remained at my side as if it were dead. My only response was my face going even redder, if possible.
I must have looked clumsy and ignorant.
“No? That’s OK,” he said. And then he was gone. It all happened in a matter of only a minute or so but it was by far the longest minute-or-so of my life. I watched the receding figure of the boy and the redness slowly began to leave my face. I turned around to see Luke smiling, forcing the laughter back.
“What's so funny?” I asked.
“Emaline,” he said, “do you realize that guy just used a pick-up line on you?” “What? No he didn’t.” I denied even the thought. I was still somewhere between mortified and bewildered. Even as Luke said it to me, though, I realized that I had heard that line before.
“Yeah, he did,” he nodded to emphasize his point and the laughter escaped him then. I smiled in spite of myself and shook my head as Luke continued to enjoy himself at my expense.
We continued walking into the mall and the confrontation had perked my paranoia. I was alert; my head was constantly turning at every little thing. I was afraid of another incident. Of course I knew I was being ridiculous. I even told myself that as we walked through the mall window shopping and browsing. I expected something else to happen, a sort of follow-up. I knew, somewhere in the back of my mind, that nothing would happen. However, I was being afraid of practically nothing. It doesn't take much of anything to scare me.
Since that incident I have learned the appropriate response for any future inquiries as to the weight of a polar bear: male or female?
So this was a memoir I turned in for an English class. Just thought I'd share :)
Friday, November 28, 2008
A Month Later...
...and I blog again. I just finished reading Samantha's blog and now I feel like my blog is incredibly shallow. I mean, hers is deep and thought provoking. Mine you read in like five minutes and you feel like you just wasted five minutes of your time. Hmmm. Whatever.
So I'm extremely sore. I started this new swim team and it's a lot harder than the school swim team. I hurt all over. My lats hurt which are muscles I didn't even know could hurt.
Lately I've been having these really weird, arbitrary bursts of thought. For about two seconds, I think I still have my brace (Elle!) and that I'm moving around too freely. I feel like I should be wearing her although my one-year anniversary without her just passed this last month. These... sensations, I guess you would call them, are just happening frequently and it's so weird. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Recently I have realized how alone I am in this world. Then I remember something I once learned and I remember that I have at least one other person I can count on. But He's basically the only one I can really depend on. I had a sort of epiphany the other day, just out of thin air, and it suddenly hit me. You cannot rely on anyone. It's a truth known throughout the universe.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was an ok Thanksgiving. I feel like the day should have had more of a thankful, warm and fuzzy ambiance surrounding it. But it didn't. It was just another day.
Another epiphany I have had recently: time just goes on. Technically speaking, I don't really believe in time. But it's the only way I can measure this world. Time just keeps going. Neither you or me can do anything to stop it, pause it; no one can find the rewind button because there is none. Your futures becomes your present and your present becomes your past all within a matter of a blink of an eye. It all just becomes a memory; a fuzzy picture filed somewhere in the back of your mind. Sometimes you can recall it but sometimes you just lose your memories. I guess that's why the present is so important.
I don't even know. Like my father says, "You just can't think too deeply about things. It makes life a lot more complicated than it should be." (or something along those lines...)
So I'm extremely sore. I started this new swim team and it's a lot harder than the school swim team. I hurt all over. My lats hurt which are muscles I didn't even know could hurt.
Lately I've been having these really weird, arbitrary bursts of thought. For about two seconds, I think I still have my brace (Elle!) and that I'm moving around too freely. I feel like I should be wearing her although my one-year anniversary without her just passed this last month. These... sensations, I guess you would call them, are just happening frequently and it's so weird. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Recently I have realized how alone I am in this world. Then I remember something I once learned and I remember that I have at least one other person I can count on. But He's basically the only one I can really depend on. I had a sort of epiphany the other day, just out of thin air, and it suddenly hit me. You cannot rely on anyone. It's a truth known throughout the universe.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was an ok Thanksgiving. I feel like the day should have had more of a thankful, warm and fuzzy ambiance surrounding it. But it didn't. It was just another day.
Another epiphany I have had recently: time just goes on. Technically speaking, I don't really believe in time. But it's the only way I can measure this world. Time just keeps going. Neither you or me can do anything to stop it, pause it; no one can find the rewind button because there is none. Your futures becomes your present and your present becomes your past all within a matter of a blink of an eye. It all just becomes a memory; a fuzzy picture filed somewhere in the back of your mind. Sometimes you can recall it but sometimes you just lose your memories. I guess that's why the present is so important.
I don't even know. Like my father says, "You just can't think too deeply about things. It makes life a lot more complicated than it should be." (or something along those lines...)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
I have been Tagged.
I have been tagged by my cousin Deric. So here are my 7 random, unknown, and/or weird facts.
*
1) I am going through a purple phase where I love the color purple, and it's almost my favorite color. I feel 5 telling people I love the color purple.
2) Deep down, I love to paint my nails. I don't do it very often but secretly I love it when they are painted.
3) I like swimming. I like swim practice. Swimming 500's in practice are my favorite things.
4) I can recite the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice word for word although that's not unknown about me...
5) Someday I want to be either a ninja or Jason Bourne although I will most likely never become either one.
6) I love black and white films. Especially films noir. People may say that the acting is cheesy and the technology inferior but I love it. They were all made back when filming was a form of art, something to ponder over and consider as something more than cheap, shallow entertainment. Very few films today can be really considered as a form of art.
7) I have weaknesses for the classics/antiquity. Classic films, books, and art. I have issues with this modern literature/other media.
*
So here are my people to tag:
Zoopsia/Clayton http://mastertheory.blogspot.com/
Rielly (if he can) http://raleighriles.blogspot.com/
Samantha http://froomla.blogspot.com/
*
I can't think of any other people to invite that haven't been invited yet. So there it is.
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