To thine own self be true (Hamlet).

Help Nathan Buy Firefly

2011-02-25T12:15:00.004-05:00

I feel pretty epic right now. I'm helping with a national non-profit called Help Nathan Buy Firefly that aspires to buy back the creative rights to Firefly. I actually spoke with Kickstarter, an online fundraising group, and received approval for HNBFF to use their site to crowd-fund our project.

Fox has been sitting on the rights to Firefly too long. We browncoats want more original content.

This is, however, bigger even than Firefly. HNBFF is a big step in a fan controlled, media revolution. I've written about this in many of my media classes.

Copyright laws are creating a moratorium on creativity as they fail to keep up with the lightning fast changes of the internet. For instance, downloading peer shared content is illegal because distribution companies would have to change their marketing plan in order to make money off of freely disbursed content.

Well, now we're showing big companies the way, and the times, they are a changing.

So, come help out! Go like our page on Facebook, please.

- Can't stop the signal -

Ah, my flighty muse. He strikes when I am sick. (Yes, my muse is a guy).

2010-04-03T21:07:00.002-04:00

Gah! So, I am terribly sick at the moment and contemplating blowing off the rest of the school semester. It will never happen. I just like to fantasize. Still, the great and terrible muse strikes again when I am weakest. So, I have made my first webcomic thing. It's about how twihaters are ruining the world...and my reading time.

Enjoy!

Speech Class

2010-03-15T18:56:00.008-04:00

I'm taking COM 1101 this semester and finding that I love the homework more than the class itself... Odd, to say the least. To give you an idea, though, I was able to give an epic Informative Speech of Process on the German School of Fencing. Oh yes, my friends, oh yes. My teacher loved it, gave me a ninety-one, and told me the only thing I really could work on this semester would be making my vocals more dramatic. I share this masterpiece with you now.

Informative Speech of Process: German School of Fencing

P.S. Had to edit the stupid video code because it wouldn't open the video. Let me know if you have any problems.

My Publicly Posted Letter to the Amateur Arsonist at YHC

2009-11-10T18:24:00.002-05:00

So, there have been a lot of early morning fire alarms around YHC lately. For reasons that will be explained in my following letter, this was not a terribly bright idea on the behalf of the arsonist setting fires and generally causing grumpy, blurry, zombie-like havoc. Well, unable to get back to sleep for the rage boiling within me, I did something about it. I wrote the following letter and posted it publicly, all over campus and on my door. I admit, I wanted the arsonist to come and try to set a fire near my door. I, personally, wanted to be justified in beating him with our fire extinguisher.

I received many compliments and an expression of mutual feelings from a lot of people. I even had an English teacher who requested that my roommate introduce us tell me that I had "a rapacious wit." It made up, somewhat, for the minute amount of sanity I lost by being repeatedly woken up in the early morning and then expected to go to class and function like a person, not the quasi zombie I really was.

So, here it is in its unabridged glory. It doesn't have the fancy script and stuff of the original...but I can't figure out how to upload a document, so, whatever.

Later.

Dear Amateur Arsonist,

Whilst considering your recent escapade, it occurred to me that you obviously had not thought through the situation. This is wildly apparent when one takes into account the constructive criticism I am about to give to you and which I sincerely hope you take to heart.

• At five a.m. in the morning people’s minds have not fully awakened. Only the most primitive and rage filled portions are functioning. For example, at five a.m. I could design a fully functioning replica of a guillotine but could not understand the definition of mercy.
• Thus, one can concur that there are now three entire buildings whose occupants would love nothing more than to see your entrails become extrails.
• Furthermore, if at five a.m. in the morning you have nothing better to do than disturb the sleep of your peers, you need to attend to your love life.

In conclusion, if you are lucky enough not to be found out for this incident, I highly suggest that you consider retirement from your life of crime.

Warmest (and I do mean Warmest, searing even) wishes,

Angela Harkins

Countdown To New Moon

2009-05-30T23:41:00.001-04:00

MTV Movie Awards | Twilight: New Moon

PLATFORM 9 & 3/4!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-15T06:08:00.002-04:00

Alright, sorry it took this long, creatures. My computer battery died when I first tried to post this. Hopefully I'll have time to get this up before I have to leave to go to the London Dungeon.

Wicked

2009-03-13T06:38:00.003-04:00

Went to see Wicked last night. it was the best show I've ever seen. I'm totally carrying a flame for Fierro (sp?) now. The British actor who played him was very, very fine. I Watched the Lion king the day before that and it was also completely awesome. It was my favorite disney movie as a kid.

We went to the GLOBE!!! yesterday. I love that place. I very seriously considered hiding out there so I could stay for the rest of time. Actors were onstage practicing for Romeo & Juliet. It was so funny when they opened the stage doors because you could tell they hadn't expected us to be there. They had to do some crazy yoga stuff and then learn the dance in the opening scene. It was very good practice for them. After the tour with our awesome and pregnant guide, we went to the gift shop and I bought a feather quill, gold ink, and buttons with quotes from Shakespeare's plays including butnot limited to a pretty piece of flesh. (If you grammar nazi me for that sentence *shakes fist*). My friends and I then broke off from the group to go to cafe in the crypt where we had lunch and I bought a cool dragon shirt. then we went to drury lane (*singing* do you know the muffin man, the muffin man?) to wait for our next theatre tour. A couple guys freaked us out asking for money so we went in the theatre a half hour early. The guides there were crazy and kept switching out to go put on funny costumes and pretend to be someone else. The theatre is supposed to be haunted, but I told the guide we were unlikely to be scared because we lived in a college that was haunted by about fifty different ghosts. Rehearsals for Oliver were going on. so, we peeked in on them.
We went to the flea market and back to the hotel for a nap before dinner. We were a bit late for the time we were going to go to dinner, but we still left in plenty of time to make it to Wicked.

And now we've come full circle.

I haven't put up any pics yet. Sorry!

Later luvs.

to KC: I'm only here for spring break.

to Effie: I haven't gotten a hang over *glare* in fact, the pina colada after I got off the flight helped clear the headache I had from the stupid flight.

London Calling!

2009-03-10T16:55:00.002-04:00

Hey people and creatures,

I am now in london. Want to know what four hours ahead of your time is like? Well, it doesn't know either. It rains a little bit off and on. BUT THERE ARE TONS OF PIGEONS! I suspect there will a reenactment of Alfred Hitchcock's Birds at any moment. Though, admittedly, Londoners seem well equipped to deal with them. All of their houses are outfitted with hundreds of little barbs to keep birds from roosting on ledges and roofs.

The flight was as good as could be expected. Sitting for 7 hours should be a competitive sport of some kind.

Alcohol just isn't my bag. White Wine: Awful. Guinness: Awful. Pina Colada: Passable. I think I'll just save my money for cool stuff like foreign trinkets.

I have some pictures, but I haven't uploaded them yet.

Next time, all!

"It's been a while since you've come around" (Are You the One?-The Presets).

2009-01-04T16:32:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted. So, Thanksgiving was good, Christmas was good, and New Year's was good. I think that about covers it. Lol, I'm just kidding. I dragged Liz out to my Mammaw's for Thanksgiving and we had a blast. She fits in with the crazy there quite well. Then Liz and Steph came and stayed for near a week after Christmas and through New Year's.

I even met a dude from Ireland and we've been emailing. I have wicked good karma.

I cut Efiie's hair, and it looks quite good. I shan't say anymore until Mugen sees it. Got a few low lights in my hair as well as a trim.

Finally got The Name of the Wind back. I can't repeat enough how much I love that book. I wish it were longer...even though it's somewhere near 800 pages. I can't wait for the next book!

Gotta go find some food now.

Later!

Look at my new picture!

2008-11-06T14:03:00.003-05:00

Cashweet. I love that picture. It makes me look like the prodigal tree person. Patrick Rothfuss isn't the only one with an impressive black and white picture! Who says nothing productive comes of wasting time climbing a tree? Actually.... I don't think anyone ever said that. Good, cuz they would have been wrong. TREES ARE THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD!!

You know, I meant to take a nap....that didn't pan out. I'll try and catc one before dinner, I guess.

Well, I'll post the picture here for your viewing pleasure... Alrighty, that's done. It'll be at the top. So, if you're reading this, it's already there! Like magic!

blarg, i should probably go to band...

later

Hello all

2008-10-23T00:34:00.002-04:00

This week has been odd. It was a mixture of bad and good. My car became a parking lot statue for a while before my dad could come to replace the battery, I burned my finger pretty egregiously causing a lot of sub par flute and piano playing, I wrote a not so splendid paper, and I got two B's on my piano repertoire pieces. Still, I'd have to say the good stuff pulled this week into the "pretty decent" category. Perhaps that's my four hour nap talking. Still, I got caught up on my favorite author's blog, I learned an awesome insult from said blog (insipid, feckless, witfucked pog), I'm going to get to sleep in late on Friday because two of my classes were canceled, and I got a nice compliment today. I was waiting for a recital practice I didn't know had been canceled when one of my fellow music majors told me that I was her favorite performance at the last recital. Awesome. We talked for a while and I was telling her how I had only had one practice with the accompanist for the next recital and she said something to the effect of "Don't worry. You'll be really awesome and everyone (the other music majors) will hate you for it." Oddly enough, that warmed the cockles of my heart.

So, Aural Skills and Band might obliterate my good mood tomorrow, but for now I'm happy. At least, I was until I started thinking about the "talking to" my Aural skills and band teacher always gives us. I work really hard, and he makes me feel crummy. Blarg. I don't think he's really talking to me. Mostly I think this because the other day he said teaching me was one of the best things about him having taken the job at YHC. That's an awesome compliment. He also usually bothers me while I'm practicing to compliment my playing. It's a good bother, though slightly embarrassing. Okay, terribly embarrassing. I really have no idea how to take compliments well. I never feel like I especially deserve them.

Oh, anyway, I actually had a reason for this post. I was taking a "What's your inner animal?" quiz and found it oddly accurate. So here is my result.

Owl

Animal: Owl. Name: Kaira Personality: you’re not the prettiest person around but when people look at you they still go ‘wow.’ You look out for people from the outside. People some times don’t like being around for you can have a bit of ‘know-it-all’ attitude. You don’t really mind that they don’t hang around with you. You like to watch from the background and if something happen your there to help. Wish: Your wish is to one-day write your own book. You want people to see how smart you really are and for them to recognize your full potential as a person. Friends: You have a few good friends, and maybe one or two enemies. You don’t really meet people, so you don’t have much of a relationship with anyone. But that doesn’t stop you from caring for them and wanting to help if they get hurt. Color: You like forest colors, like green, brown and blue. Stone: Peridot. Hobbies: You should read, write or paint. Things that have to do with improving yourself. Maybe you should try training your strength, you focus a lot of energy on your mind, which is good, but you also need to work your physical strength. Quote: “Believe in the wonderful power that is the human mind.” –Quote that I read somewhere. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who kept on trying even when there seemed to be no hope at all.” –Another quote I read somewhere. “I’d rather be a nerd then someone intellectually challenged.” –Quote by me.

Well, I should probably attempt to go to sleep. I have an Aural Skills test tomorrow and a computer quiz. I hate Aural skills tests, but oddly enough, I really love the computer quizzes. It's just vocabulary, and I have to type in the correct words for the definition. Still, it makes me feel all accomplished because I can study perfectly for this kind of quiz. Because of this, I get through the quiz at lightning speed, and I always make a 100%. It gives me a little lift for the rest of the day.

Before I go, if anyone wants to come see me perform, I have recital this Friday at 4 pm in the recital hall, a concert Saturday at 8 pm in the auditorium (I have a solo), and a full band concert November 18th at 8 pm.

Later.

P.S. You should all go read Patrick Rothfuss's blog "The Good Life." It is so awesome and true.

I'll leave you with my comment from Rothfuss's last blog. FYI, his book was just released in German.

"Along with winning over Germany, impressive, I wanted to let you know you're also slowly but surely winning over the small town of Blairsville, Georgia, admittedly slightly less impressive.

Still, you should know I am helping you to take over the world. To prove it, here is a copy of the email I just received from the librarian at my high school. (I volunteered there all through high school).

"Angela,

I hear you are an AP Scholar! Hooray for you. Also, I got a call from ____ at the Book Nook, and he told me about a new fantasy (The Name of the Wind) that was highly recommended by such people as Ursula Leguin, Terry Brooks, and Angela Harkins. I rushed right down and bought a copy and plan to read it over the break.

Hope you and Stephanie are doing great at YHC (my college)."

...I could have edited out the part about me being an AP scholar. But hey! I'm an AP scholar, and the only perk I get is being able to say that.

So, I shall shout it to the world as we conquer them!!!!!!!!

muahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

(awkward pause)

Well, alright then. Bye!"

Fall Break

2008-09-22T16:29:00.002-04:00

So, though fall break is but two days and the weekend, I believe I will take a foray into the wild as I've been tempted to do since I began toddling about. There was always the appeal of it being some sort of Spartan rite of passage. Honestly though, it feels like we've all fallen into an invisible cage. Blarg, it's hard to describe. Sometimes, though, it feels as if all of the mythical races were really just humans once upon a time, and we've smooshed it all out of ourselves. Every fall, it seems as if I'm an elf or whatever again. I just want to take off into the woods and cause random mischief, never really allowing anyone to see me again... Who knows, maybe I could even write that epic quest novel I've been meaning to get to. Seriously though, I was unbearably close to leaving society this weekend. *Sigh* It's not like I don't have all of the supplies necessary.
1. Sword
2. Bow
3. Extreme whimsy and curiosity
4. Nagging since of a higher purpose/quest for a quest

If one day I'm not around anymore, don't panick; it just means I've finally found my way into tir na nog/Narnia/Alagaesia/Hogwarts/Arran/the-rest-of-the-extensive-list-of-imaginary-places-of-legend.

And so the quest of Angela began.

I can never do anything normal or easy, can I? I've already started breaking it to my family that I'm going to be a bard. For some reason, everyone's reaction is to offer another word for minstrel. My brother said bard and Stephanie said troubadour. Nope. Neither of those will do. A bard is more of a writer (shakespeare) and a troubadour is an actor. They are all similar, but minstrel suits me better... though tinker would also work, even if it doesn't have a definitive musical association.

Mayhap I'll go on grand adventures and be poor all the while, saving memory and money so that I may live richly when my youth fades. Whatever I do, I've known all along I couldn't live as others are wont to. I'm only truly happy when I do something amazingly abnormal.

Whatever I do, everything will be fine. Now I must go and plan the first of many adventures.

London's calling.

My YHC Computer Class

2008-09-02T11:22:00.003-04:00

Woops! Turns out I have to create a new blog......... Anyway, here's the message anyway. If you want to go to my class blog, i have a link to it in my "Blogs i actually take the time to peruse" section.

Hey guys,

I know it's been a bit since I've written, but hey! Guess what! For extra credit in my computer class, I'm going to be posting on the blog every week. Pretty sweet when I get credit for a blog.

Anyway, not much else happening right now. My life is rife with homework, books, and movies. The library here has some really good movies that we can check out. Needless to say, Effie and I have already befriended the library ladies. We also integrated ourselves as the editors of the literary magazine... I wonder how that will go. We're still waiting to see if anyone else wants to join before we put up flyers for submissions. I should probably suggest flyers FOR getting people to join. Seriously...who is going to know about the literary magazine besides crazies like us?

Well, it's lunch time right now. I'm gonna go grab some food before I have to go practice my flute and piano and junk...

later

YHC Class Registration

2008-07-13T16:54:00.002-04:00

Well, it was a stressful ordeal, but I have completed registration for the fall semester classes. I came out of it with a hefty 20 semester hour load, but I plan on dropping at least one three hour class. I'm just waiting to see which one it will be. It will probably be Honors Music Appreciation because I don't need an appreciation class as I am a music major. I will have to do some sort of project or whatever to keep my honors status (and money). If I'm not able to drop music ap (though I don't foresee this happening) I don't have to take any comp class, but I'm going to anyway right now because I think they will be fun. You know, Young Harris might make me have to have ridiculous AP scores to get credit, but as I did get the scores, I can exempt comp. I, comp II, and calculus. I'm planning on taking the comp classes anyway though. I'm weird like that. I'm still teetering on taking classes I don't have to take, though. I like English, but I have to have a world literature anyway. So, if I don't need to take any comp's, should I? I don't know, I'll work it out later. If I do keep both of my honors classes, though, I'll just take my computer class some other semester.

So, besides the ridiculously stresful event of registering, I had a pretty good time. We played some games, watched Mean girls (which was weird because more guys showed up to watch it than girls), and had a rave in my residence hall. Even registering was kind of fun. I think impressed/frightened the teachers with my extreme organization and forethought. I had my schedule that I had planned out for weeks all typed up and it had all four semesters on it to make sure I could get all of the classes I needed. It looked pretty professional too, so the one teacher finally asked me if I had made it myself. haha! I even heard the teachers helping with registration congregate and talk about how organized I was and how I "looked towards the future." It's weird having someone talk about you when you can hear them. I also impressed mr. defoor with my speed in scheduling because it took me about two seconds to put in most of my classes because I had worked out what time of day they all were in so that there wouldn't be any conflicts. I did take a little while to iron out some kinks because 2 classes I wanted weren't available. So, I'm not taking a PE this semester, but defoor was helping me, and he called and had another time slot opened for music theory so I could get my speech class that was at the same time as the other music theory class.

Anyway, it was all very exciting and I think I've reached a whole new group of people who can be just as frightened and impressed by my odd scheduling insanity and O.C.D. *shakes fist* Now I just wish they would tell me what the sophomore honors classes are so I can know what to not take right now! I hope they're 2 sciences and another English!!! I've already bothered my mentor again, asking her what they are and what I have to do if I drop my honors music appreciation to keep my honors scholarship and status.

On another note, my brother is moving to Valdosta :( My nieces are staying up here with their mom, and we're planning on letting them visit my dorm when I move in. You know, inspire them to greatness and whatnot. Also, (If it's alright with you, Effie) we were thinking they might spend the night with me one weekend. I can't wait to move in!!! We're already bidding on some furniture at the project curbside the school does. It's where kids who graduate donate the furniture they don't want anymore and we bid in a silent auction fashion. All the proceeds go to charity and the stuff is really cheap. It's good all around. So far, we're bidding a not so pretty but very comfortable corner chair and a glass and bamboo coffee table. If we win, it will cost us a whopping eleven bucks. I still need to get the fridge and the air purifier though. blarg, expenses. OOOH!!! Effie and I have a chance to go to Greece during the spring semester with the honors program!!! That will be cool. I'm still saving first and foremost for the Ireland trip, though. I have my passport now, too.

Well, I've bored even myself at this point. So I'll just go now.
Later.

So what's going on this summer?

2008-07-09T23:35:00.002-04:00

Well, I went school shopping today. Goody's in blue ridge is having a super sale (tons of stuff is 70-80% off) and I'm pretty sure I've gotten all of the clothes I'll ever need. All under $300 too!!! Wooh! go cheap or go home!!! I took Steph with me, but she didn't find much. Ah! but earlier this summer, June 23rd to be exact, I went whitewater rafting down middle and lower Ocoee!! It was completely fantasmagorical!! The best part was when our guide was swept out on our very first rapid, which happened to have been a class 4, the highest class on that part of the river!! I ended up having to shout directions to get our group to paddle through the rapids. Sadly, my friend was swept out along with the guide, which freaked her out. Coincidentally, she didn't finish out the rafting with us. We tried to pull her back in our raft, but she was swept out too far away from us, and another raft got her instead. BUT IT WAS BLOODY WELL NOT FROM A LACK OF TRYING ON OUR PART!!! We paddled full force to her and almost had her in reach for one of the paddles. I also had to jump to the back of the raft to get the rescue rope, which is quite a thing to do, without getting thrown out, when going through a class 4 stretch.

So, we got out of the rapids and all of the other rafts were stopped. Each of the guides in the other rafts started shouting different directions at us trying to get us to the side of the river too. Eventually, I told them to stop shouting different directions and just told our group to paddle forward. So, when we finally made it to a stop with the other rafts, the guides were freaking out saying how awesome we were for making it down guideless when it was our first trip. yep *brushes off the shoulder* we were awesome. The other guides ragged on ours for getting thrown out. He was a little cut up too. Anyway, I pulled him in with my paddle after he floated down to where we were and then we got Liz back in our raft, but she only hit one more rapid with us before she decided to call it a day and head back to the sign in area.

I had a blast, though, and I hope to hit upper Ocoee next time. After all, if it's good enough for the Olympics, it's good enough to keep me entertained for at least a day!

Other than that, I put a lot of money in the bank for Ireland and college, etc. after spending a bunch on books. Needless to say, I also spent a considerable amount of time with my books. Oh yeah, and my niece Jenna turned 4 the day after my rafting adventure! I got her a beautiful puzzle of a castle and a flying unicorn... she's very into puzzles these days... scary.

On my AP exams, I got a 4 in Lit, a 4 in Lang, and a 5 in Calculus! It's pretty cool (Especially the 5!!!) but my mentor recommended I take the honors english anyway... *sigh* that sucks, but at least I don't have to take the stupid math placement exam or the actual math class!! Thank god, I would never get in my semester hours if i had to take another class. I already have 18 a semester just to get down the basics... blarg! A lot of them are music related though (duh, music major) which is cool, though it promises to be extremely difficult. Taking an aural theory class intimidates me, but I'm willing to give it a go. I do love music, after all, and I've tried to learn on my own. I get to take a piano class too!!! I love the piano!! I play a little already, but it's just what I've taught myself from sheet music. Speaking of college, I should go to bed so I can finish my preparations for the yhc START program...and also so I can wake up at an ungodly 7am in summer on Friday for the actual START itself.

later

Full moon, Full moon, Iiiit's a full moon!!!

2008-06-19T20:31:00.002-04:00

The Scottish Festival was very eventful. I am officially a member of clan Douglas, Woooooh! So, this is how it went down. We (Stephanie, Liz, and I) went back to the Douglas Clan tent because that's the clan I'm a sept of. Anyway, we were there earlier that day, but when we went back there was a lady there partaking of the good stuff that the clans keep "hidden" in the back. That's right, it was alcohol. Seeing as our clan is awesome, it was even whiskey. So, the man running the tent asked if I was ready to pay my dues yet to become part of the clan. Truthfully, all the money I have is going to the Ireland trip fund except for what I need for books and then piffle stuff like food and souveneirs. I tell him as much. So, the lady asks what I would get for joining and he explains all about the games that go on around the world and how I could run a tent, wear tartans, hang out at the clan tents and get free food and shade and such, thus the lady offers to pay the fee for me!!!! Woo! go Liquor and sheer luck!!!

We also were unofficially adopted by clan cameron for no official reason and were pulled into the professional Scottish dancing. So Fun!!! the night before, however, we started some very wild, tiring, and fun dancing at the Hunting MacLeod concert. I still hurt all over from it, but It. Was. Totally. Worth. It.

Ooh, I also climbed the little waterfall at helton creek falls. Yeah, after all of that without getting hurt, I slip trying to wash my flip flops off in the water. *shakes fist* stupid flip flops.

I'm looking forward to college. At first it seemed overwhelming in the context of graduation and all the other crap that was going on. Now, though, it seems like a great oppurtunity to strike out on my own. Speaking of, Steph, looks like we need to request to room together now that it looks like Liz is either going to Reinhardt or we're going to have her as a guest on weekdays. We need to email Sharon Huffman who I believe is the one that takes care of housing. So, I'm gonna go send her my email. Let me know when you send yours.

Later, all.

Fireflies

2008-06-12T20:32:00.001-04:00

Why does a firefly burn so brightly in the deepest gloom? Out of Love? Hunger? Fear? No, these are effects and not causes. Only Loneliness and Hope could lead the firefly on a fool mission to light the world. So, the firefly shines in the night when Loneliness leads to Love, secretly sending out a message for the world to see: I am alone, but I am here. For a speck of time, he is not Solitary as he winks in a field of shining eyes, all weeping the same song. But what of Hunger, as it lights a cold fire in the shadows? Both speak the same words, though one savors more bitter on the tongue. Yet, the lock inside cannot be opened as each key tried scrapes long gouges on steel it was not meant to fit. Fear leads to Hunger, Hunger to Fear. Thus, the glow worm goes a glowing, warning of the toxicity inside. The blind jester Hope leads on, twirling, spinning, screaming, never looking at the ground or sky, alight with fireflies.

So burn, burn, unto the night,
As scared souls go searching.
Cold fire lighting up our eyes
as they stick in the sky: a warning.

So, this is 18, eh?

2008-06-10T12:53:00.002-04:00

So, I'm 18.......yeah. It's not terribly different. I mean, I could go buy cigarettes (digusting), register to vote (ridiculously small amount of time to go do so considering the elections aren't even until nov.), or get a tattoo ($13 as Dakota points out but, sadly, forbidden by my mom). I went to go get a passport yesterday, but I had to have my certified birth certificate which my family was supposed to get forever ago. I thought my dad had gotten it recently, but I don't know. It's not really that hard to get, though. I can just go to the probate court which is just up the stairs from where I have to get my passport. It will cost me another $10, however, those sheisters. They're really sticking it to me with all this nickel and dime stuff. I JUST WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY!!!! YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY!!!!! I think everyone should focus less on the illegal immigration issue and look into this. Seriously, I think people would be less pissed about people coming into the country if it were easier to leave.

*sigh* I'm not looking forward to airport security. I think I might enter a drawing for a free flight. It covers one $1,000 roundtrip ticket or 2 $500 roundtrip tickets. It's cutting it close, though, because i have to have completed the trip by 6/30/09. I'll probably end up using all my points on the $100 drawing. I have a better chance at it.

I miss Liz. She hasn't texted back yet.

I put in an application at the dollar store. It seems like it would be an okay job. It definitely has to be better than my last "official" job at McDonald's. I hate looking for jobs sometimes because, after you take all of the time to fill out an application, that's when you know they're not going to hire you. Oh, it's not because they tell me that or anything, no, that would be preferable. It's kind of like being blown off very badly on a date. For example, I went to apply at Grinds and Glazes last year.
Cashier: "We're out forms, but you can write everything down on this order ticket."
Me: yeah, I'm sure that's the first place the manager will look for new employees especially since enough people have applied to make you run out of forms. "Thank you." *fills out ridiculous form without hopes of job*

Sadly, that is not the worst one. I applied at Muffy's Mountain burgers once. There was no application, some lady just asked questions and wrote it down.
Waitress: "Name?"
me: "Angela Harkins"
Waitress: "Age?"
me: "Whatever age I was at the time."
Waitress: "What are you applying to be?"
me: "A waitress."
Waitress: "OKay, that's all I need."
Me: "O.o ?!?!?!?! You don't need my phone number?"
Waitress: "OH. Yeah."

Looking back, I'm pretty sure I just got the shaft from someone who didn't want me to work there for some reason (didn't want to lose her job because she was clearly an ass? saving a job for someone else, also an ass?) or maybe she just didn't have the testicular fortitude to tell me I was too young. Nope, she just wasted a colossal amount of my time.

Anyway, the rendezvous in a dark alley with my memories wasn't really so I could get that punch in the face that I've been missing. I was just kind of pointing out that when I turned in my application it did not seem favorable. I really just gave it to the cashier to turn into the manager. It always goes better if you see the manager yourself. Oh well.

As much as I don't want to work my ass off for the summer, I need a job. If things go as I want them to, I'll have to pay for the remainder of a friend's college tuition. Not to mention that I'm still saving for Ireland because I've learned I can't really count on anyone else over an extended period of time. Yeah, that sucks, but I haven't let it jade me. I understand what they're using the money for. They're in complete denial to the fact that they won't be able to help me out, though. Whatever, the less I have to count on someone else who is unlikely to help, the better.

On the bright side, I just made some of the best (and spiciest) eggs ever. Mmmmmmmmm..........jalapeno eggs! Well, I'm off to eat said delicious concoction.

Later.

Tales from Bookland

2008-06-05T18:32:00.000-04:00

So, I just read a book called The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and It. Was. Awesome. Because of AP I can't enjoy bad writing like I used to. Thankfully, Rothfuss has made a wonderfully written book that happens to be a great fantasy as well. Krieger, you need to start teaching this in class. There hasn't been a single person I know of that has read this and disliked it. It has topped every book list out this year. These are the reasons I took a chance on it with my limited book funds when Jeff told me about it. I hope both Jeff and Rothfuss enjoy the free advertising I'm giving out to my less than sane crowd. Oh and if you have doubts as to whether or not you are a part of this crowd, if you are reading this then you are a part of the crazy.

Anyway, not so happily, my friend was kicked out of her mom's house without warning and whisked away to live with her dad. It looks as if she won't be coming to college with us at YHC, but we're fighting that desperately. I'm trying to convince her to get off the high horse and let us help her out. I guess like Rothfuss says though, "Pride is a funny thing especially when you have nothing else." Okay, so that's not a direct qoute, but it would have been had I not foisted the kickassery of NOTW upon Stephanie.

Sadly, the next book doesn't come out until next year T_T. It's not so bad, though, as it gives me time to replenish my book fund. That's right, I've spent all of my book money... again. I blame Andrea for this. I was supposed to meet her in town to give her the rest of the money she was to get from playing at the Blairsville Mountain arts thing and she couldn't get a hold of me to tell me when she was in town. Okay, you get better cell reception in Hell than you do at my house, that's why I asked her to give me a rough estimate so I could be in town when she called. So, she left town even though I got there early, and consequently, I had to wait at the booknook for three and a half hours. This isn't strictly Andrea's fault, but that doesn't change the weight of my wallet. I bought Drowned Wednesday, Peter and the Starcatchers, a Michelin map of Ireland, and ordered a 100th anniversary illustrated edition of Peter Pan. Not to mention the copy of Breaking Dawn that I've been on the list for forever. Them's the breaks.

Speaking of slang. Stephanie has never heard "foot the bill." I thought that was weird. Another of my friends has heard it but has no idea what it means. So, I'm going to make a poll to see how many people actually knows what it means. In other words, don't spoil it by blabbing the meaning in a comment to me. Thank you.

Well, I'm off to make my little quiz...

Okay, after making the quiz I realized how different people's thinking patterns can be. My brother could just not comprehend how to help me make a wrong answer for that question which was still plausible. Thanks again AP teachers. I think I'm just now realizing the value of actually teaching us how to think as opposed to shoving meaningless work at us. For example, I may not remember the first fundamental theorem of calculus, but I'm never going to forget how to slog through something as horrible and long as an AP calculus exam. Blargh, on second though, maybe you guys should thank us for not barfing all over you after those beastly exams. Just kidding. Well, I'm really off now.

I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!!!!!!!........urgh, graduate

2008-05-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

So, tomorrow's the day of the party for 2,000 of our closest friends and family (aka graduation) and I'm tripping harder than a granny meeting a snow cone at the top of the stairs. Graduation is one of those things that everyone likes to look back on, but the trick is surviving it in the first place. Anyway, I don't have to play for the procession anymore, but I still have to give my saludatorian speech. Shh, though, it's "top secret." I'm not supposed to let anyone near it except for batchelor. I wouldn't be surprised if they set up a self destruct button while I wasn't looking so it will explode if someone other than me or batchelor touches it.

Well, I've been doing random crap to distract myself. First, I looked up celtic tattoos to see what I want to get when we go to Ireland. So far, I like the double dragon tattoo on Krieger's celtic tattoo site, but not really anything else.

I have a year to decide. Guess what else I have a year to do. Learn Gaelic! I'm just learning a few phrases and it's very hard trying to get the right pronunciation. I finally learned how to say Caed Mile Failte, though.

AHH!!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS!!!!!!! I'm gonna go find some other way to distract myself. Maybe a book or my plants or random violence, something of that nature. Plus, I have to practice my speech at some point. Now would be a great time for a chasm to open up and swallow me for a day or so.

Slan.

Let's get ready to ruuuummmmmmmbbbbbbblllllllleeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-18T20:47:00.000-04:00

So, I'm watching the condemned. We rented movies and I randomly saw Billy again at movie gallery. It's weird because I want to talk to him and be all buddy buddy again, but it's been a long time since we were best friends. Anyway, sometimes I wish the world were more like the condemned so I could just go ape shit on people every now and then. No particular reason, but it sounds good so I think I'll put that in my saludatory address...yeah, right......anyway, I've been thinking about the speech I have to right, and I've thought of a quote I want to use. It's not from a well known series or anything, but it's fitting. I have no idea what the guidelines for this are or when I need to write it. I know Jasmine was at school last year to write hers so I haven't really started anything.

Well, I'm gonna go finish my movie.

Oh yeah, P.S., I finished my window box. I put in jalapenos, moss rose, thyme, parsley (i think), cucumber, and sweet pea. It looks freaking awesome with my flying aloe vera. My poor aloe. It's still suffering from frostbite from when SOMEONE in my family left it OUTSIDE when it got extremely cold. I got so pissed. I found it outside when I was leaving for one of my AP tests and I had to take it inside and pour some warm-ish water on it. I got to the test a little later than I wanted. I thought about leaving it outside as it had already been damaged, but it made me feel horrible trying to walk by it. Plus, I would have thought about it all through my test neway. In conclusion, my flower box is awesome.

Y soy rebelde cuando no sigo a los demas...

2008-05-10T10:43:00.000-04:00

I'm confident that song will haunt me for the rest of my days. I was with Stephanie in Spanish yesterday for buy a Beta day and they watched the spanish teen soap opera Rebelde. That's where the song comes from. So, I have made it my personal mission to annoy the crap out of Effie for the rest of eternity for subjecting me to that mind controlling song. So now I'm just going to randomly burst into song right in the middle of senten......

Y soy rebelde
cuando no sigo a los demas
y soy rebelde
cuando te quiero hasta rabiar
y soy rebelde
cuando no pienso igual que ayer
y soy rebelde
cuando me juego hasta la piel
si soy rebelde
es que quizas nadie me conoce bien.

...ces.

The rest of my week was also mind bottlingly insane. (Mind bottling? Yeah, when you're so confused it's like your mind is in a bottle.- Blades o' Glory). The Wednesday Calculus test was the most mentally exhausting thing I have ever done. It felt like I was drunk after we finished so I went home but still had to come back to practice with the seventh grade band. Thursday, though, was jam packed with it's only delicious jelly center of "let's try and kill angela with exhaustion."

What's the recipe for this delicious confection you ask?
1. add AP English Literature test to Angela batter and beat thoroughly
2. pour Angela into STAR student lunch
3. put Angela back into oven (AKA school) for 2 hours to teach seventh grade music to other high school flutes
4. Surprise! serve up Angela cake with jelly filling for her Mom's birthday.
5. Wrap left overs in band dress and add a flute and piccolo and it's perfect for a band concert!!! no mess!!

Yeah, I saw that day coming a month off as my little calendar ran out of room for that day. Ah well, I saw my best friend from fifth grade again at the concert! I haven't seen Billy since he moved away in Middle School and I barely saw him then because our schedules were so different. Apparently hardly anybody else recognized him. I so IMMEDIATELY knew who it was. He's changed but not enough to make him unrecognizable. So after the concert a big group of us circled up in the parking lot and almost turned into band pancakes because of all the cars going in and out. It was soooooooo funny though when Billy went to leave. He whipped his car around, squealing tires, to get out and a cop car was right there. So, the cop turns on his lights and Billy gets out of the car with his hands in a gesture that says totally not my fault and tells the cop "Total accident." It was definitely not an accident but the cop let him go and thus the story is funny. Even funnier because my friends and I had JUST gotten out of the car.

I woke up at seven this morning. That sucked. I had planned to sleep in for aforementioned reasons. It's funny, everybody at school keeps asking "Angela, are you alright?" Not really. I'm dead tired from all the crap I had to do but I will be fine so don't worry about it because you can't do anything anyway. That's what I want to say but I'm too tired so it's either "yeah" or I flutter my hand at them to make them leave me alone.
I think if my family doesn't want to go this weekend I'm going to go to Gainesville on my own to check out my sexy beast of a flute that I want to buy.
It kind of stings that the only award I got at the concert was a senior plaque. Hopefully, I got some sort of band scholarship thing that they give out at honor's night. So, I'll be completely and utterly happy if I get one of those. I got my financial aid summary from YHC the other day and I only have a couple hundred over what I need to go to school there and $3,500 of that is the Stafford Loan that I will have to pay back. I would really rather not take out student loans so hopefully some of these scholarships I applied to will come through (unlikely) or I'll get some money at honors night (fingers crossed). If not, I still have all summer to get money and apply for more scholarships.
Speaking of getting money, I'm playing the Blairsville Arts Festival on the square May 31st and June 1st. Come check it out....and feel free to leave tips cuz i have to pay the other flutes playing with me out of the tips! Also, look out for a little article or ad or whatever in the paper about yours truly and her availability for events as a flautist. Jan is so awesome. She's doing the ad for free because I'm helping her out with the Festival for cheap. KARMA FREAKING ROCKS!!!!

Blargh. I have to come up with some money for my 18th birthday trip to Savannah. Whatever. Life calls me so I must go do stuff for my Mom's birthday party.

Y soy rebelde
cuando no sigo a los demas
y soy rebelde
cuando te quiero hasta rabiar
y soy rebelde
cuando no pienso igual que ayer
y soy rebelde
cuando me juego hasta la piel
si soy rebelde
es que quizas nadie me conoce bien.

hasta luego.

Books, Books, Glorious Books!

2008-03-08T21:03:00.000-05:00

Yay! This STAR student thing is paying off in unexpected ways. So far I have gotten two books, a check for fifty dollars, and a booknook gift certificate for fifty dollars (which I spent the day after I found out about it and would have done so sooner if the booknook had been open when I found out about it). What's weird about the check and booknook certificate is that I got them from relatives who have never in my entire life bought me a birthday present or acknowledged my birthday in any way. I was randomly talking to Robert about it at the math competition, and I think he summed it up best (with heavy sarcasm of course). "They're really celebrating the important stuff, huh? Who cares about the day you were born?" or something to that effect. Anyway, like I told Stephanie, if I had actually known I'd get all these goodies I may have used those SAT study tapes I checked out from the library...I need to return those...I've had them since around November. That's sad, really, seeing as I work in the library and all. I really don't want to try and haul anything else around.
Math competition you say?! Why yes, I did just go to one. We got second place (woohoo!) in a spring break safety competition they held during lunch (not so woohoo! :( ). We got nothing in the actual math competition. Consolation prizes=single red tshirt won by second place in lunchtime quiz and random baggies of spring break goodies (which included chapstick, sunscreen, pamphlets, and condoms). We all thought the condoms were the prizes for the quiz thing so that's why we played the game at all. Oh, but let me tell you about the team that won the math competition, as in complete decimation of all other teams. Yep, they were entirely asian. Not just asian-american, I mean citizens of Korea and Vietnam. They didn't understand why our team was giggling and clapping when they went up to get their medals.
Another random fact, I scored highest in union county on the quiz we all had to take, though still nowhere near the asian scores...ah well, I must comfort myself with the fact that I'm racially inclined to trounce them all in drinking.
I bought two new books with my giftcertificate and I ordered four more (still have $4 left too!). I read Speak again today. I think I shall go read some more, I've exhausted my prom fantasyland adventure. Seriously, I don't think I get into it as much as some people. All I've done is find an outfit and look at some masks and accesories. Other people constantly fill AP Calculus with chatter about renting cabins and splitting limo costs and junk...really, ole B-ville's just not cool enough for that. Don't get me wrong, I love Blairsvegas, but there's just something about trying to over do it in a small town that sits with me like month old cottage cheese.
I guess this is why I'm social leper numero uno...ah well, it's not so bad, maybe I'll get a vacation to Hawaii just like in that Simpsons episode. Plus, when people don't expect you to have social skills you can just drift off in the middle of a...

College Woes

2008-01-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

So, I have applied to Emory Early Decision and YHC regular decision. Anyway, I went to YHC yesterday and got my acceptance letter that contained the details of a very nice looking financial aid package that doesn't even include other scholarships and stuff I will get. More surprisingly, I really loved the campus and the class I got to sit in on. PLUS, my friends are going to YHC and we would be able to stay in the same suite together with some other random people. But no. It's too late to defer my Early Decision Application to Regular Decision. I will know whether or not I'm accepted by February 1st. So, pray, or do whatever it is your religion does, that I get a defferal the good ol' fashion way, by not meeting their standards. I know, that's weird, but hey, I want to have FUN in college too. Even if I did end up deciding to go to Emory, I want to have that choice, not be locked into it. I claim that I was under duress to make a decision about the rest of my life; locking myself into a college plan seemed like a good way to get rid of that. BAH! Indecision, but not really. I think I know what I want to do now, even if I don't know the career I want to have FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. This is an awful lot to expect someone to decide. I mean, they want me to choose the path of my life for a portion of time greater than I've seen until this point. I could actually see myself living at Young Harris, though, and there they don't force you into something. Instead, they make sure you have a smattering of everything so you can decide from experience what you want to major in.
Well, that's the end of that rant for today, kids.
On a lighter note, I'm writing a fanfiction and it's getting tons of awesome reviews. Plus, that financial aid deal with YHC was pretty awesome and unbelievable when I first saw the numbers on the paper. I'm gonna go see about the music scholarship for YHC. Later.

P.S. Oh, and I updated just for you Kriegie. I demand you tell me what to do with the rest of my life. JK. Some advice would be great in this instance, though.

Political Controversy

2008-01-15T23:40:00.000-05:00

I received an email from someone who will remain anonymous. Anyway, here is the email along with my response.

(PLEASE READ UNLESS YOU WANT A MUSLIM FOR PR
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:40:36 -0500

Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and
Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita, Kansas. Obama’s parents met at the University of Hawaii.

When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.

When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama
takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.'

Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is not a radical. Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was
temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returnedto Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. Lolo Soetoro,
the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL
teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad> against the western world.

Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in
an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.

Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge Allegiance of the Flag. Nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts,
Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out - what better
way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!!

Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?......

Here's my response...

Did you bother to check this? I did. Barack Obama's parent's separated when he was two. He saw his father only one time after that. When he moved to Indonesia with his mom and step dad he went to the Basuki school that was originally created for dutch noblemen. A person from the Clinton candidacy leaked this, calling it a 'radical muslim school.' Obama moved back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents in the fifth grade. Are you trying to tell me that a master plan was conceived before then (when he was betaween the ages of 6 and 10) in which Obama was to become the president of the United States and take over the world in the name of radical Islam? Also, even if he continued to be muslim, instead of having converted to Christianity as he did, I would refuse to be a part of such hatemongering. It is closed minded typecasting like that which creates the arbitrary hatred on both sides, leading to truly disturbing displays of hatred. Are we to become a nation against Muslims instead of for equality?

Also, here is a video of Barack Obama leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9veEouqqQ

I'm neither for nor against Mr. Obama. I am simply against being an uninformed follower. To try and get both sides of the story, I attempted to also find a film of Obama refusing to recite the pledge. I found no such thing. The closest I got was titled "Obama objects to pledge for religious reasons." However, this was misleading as it was a video of him standing attentively, without his hand over his heart, during the national anthem, not the pledge of allegiance.

Stephanie and I with Zell Miller

2007-12-10T21:04:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, check this out. Jan Boling just sent me a link to her online archives and stephanie and I are on it! It's pretty awesome. Anyway check it out.

http://www.storiesandevents.com/zellMiller.html

No one is normal. Come on, who has 2.5 kids?

2007-11-24T21:29:00.000-05:00

Random title that has nothing to do with this post. you can all thank Dakota for his 11.7:1 student to teacher ratio from berry.
Well I got back from Chicago today and my mom has completely renovated my room. So, as soon as I walk in the door I look at my room with my mom and eventually break free from her explanations as to what she's done with my room to put my luggage up. After that I went to Thanksgiving dinner at my Granny's house (we eat there the weekend after thanksgiving so everyone can be there). In Chicago it was as cold as I suspected it would be. Joy of joys, we had to stand around in the snow for an hour or so just before we joined the parade. It was really fun though. There was a store closed right where we had to wait and their entrance was a revolving door that they had locked. Anyway, we shoved fifteen people into that tiny doorway. It was nice and toasty towards the middle of that band orgy. As someone said in the middle of the huddle "There's close and then there's band close." Let me give you an example of just how close we were. Jon and Andrea were packed next to me and someone else was holding Andrea's piccolo. Andrea couldn't get her arms up so the person holding the piccolo put it on my shoulder where I shrugged back until jon caught it in his mouth and dropped it into Andrea's hands. Something far funnier happened in the middle of the parade smack dab where the cameras were filming us so I'm not sure if you guys will get to see me because I was standing right next to what happened. Well, the trip took longer than we expected (16 hours instead of 13) so the night before the parade we arrived late for the ball and we got at most 5 hours of sleep. So, during the parade I march with the tubas and Rickie stands right next to me. We had to stop for a second while we were marching and RICKIE FALLS ASLEEP! He was holding his tuba and everything and when the band started moving he got left behind. I had to fall behind to wake his butt up and get him back in formation.
The next day we went to the field museum, which was awesome, the museum of science and industry, which wasn't so fabulous because everyone was dead tired, and finally shopping at the navy pier. Oh yeah, we went to the Sear's tower at some point as well.
Mr. Rittenhouse has an air canon in the band room that he uses to shoot people who talk or don't pay attention. Well, the museum of science and industry sold these particular air canons. Needless to say, although they were twenty dollars each, a great number were purchased and used to snipe Mr. Rittenhouse throughout the rest of the trip.
So, all in all, I had a blast, took some photos, made some memories, and bought a coffee mug that holds 30 ounces of any given liquid. Yep, that's right. they don't even make coffee pots that big.

KRIEGY ABANDONED US!!!!

2007-11-14T19:10:00.000-05:00

Well the Krieg has gone off to her drunken teacher fest in new york and left us poor APers to our own devices. We miss you Krieg. Well today we watched the entire Jack the Ripper dvd and most of the Cities of the Underworld Dracula thing. It was fun. And yes Krieg, we did actually do work as well. I went to go have my allergy test done today and they couldn't get the full two vials of blood they needed for all fifty tests but they have enough for thirty five or so. Anyway, here's the fun part; when I was finished having my blood drawn, even though I didn't have as much taken as I've had in the past, I got really dizzy and my hearing kind of went out so they laid me out on the floor like I was dying and loaded me with juice and cookies. It all comes of skipping lunch today and not drinking enough water. I know, tsk tsk should have listened to stephanie. I just don't like the lunchroom or being herded around like cattle. Come on people, I don't need a babysitter. I take perfectly good care of myself and I help the school run smoothly; they should just leave me alone and let me get on with it (Mr. Kelly). I have to go to Dr. Charisne's (however that's spelled) office on Friday for part of third block and most if not all of fourth block but I'll be there for drama club and to take stephanie home with me for the weekend. We're gonna go get facials, doo-da, doo-da-day! OH no, I forgot I have to go pester my dad into buying me books......... *runs off*

"And now for something completely different!"

2007-11-09T13:29:00.000-05:00

Well kids I'm sitting in third block as usual trying to decide what to do with the next five minutes when i have nothing to do (not strictly true I've already decided to post for you fine ppl). Anyway I felt like posting. Random info. a lot of people backed out from the last football game at the last moment. I wasn't going to go tonight because I've been feeling really crappy (why I went to the doctors to see about my toncils) and I was supposed to go get my allergy medicine today but because so many people backed out at the last minute I told mr. R that I would just go ahead and go to the football game tonight. He said he would let me leave after halftime so I probably will. Anyway an update on my medical situation. I'm going for allergy tests next wednesday and I'm going to have my toncils taken out on december twentieth. Also, Dr. Smith said I have reactive airway syndrome (not a surprise really my brother had it too but he grew out of it or something. Ironic how I grew into it) and I have to go to my primary physician to get an emergency inhaler. I still adamantly insist that is Stephanie's sickliness that has infected me. I'm just messing with you Steph, I <3 u. well the bell's gonna ring any second now so i'll go.

"Love is indestructible" but sometimes I wish it wasn't

2007-10-28T13:15:00.000-04:00

I'm losing everything and it sucks. My parents are getting a divorce, I hardly ever see my niece Zoey and she just started walking. Honestly, those two things don't hurt so much because I never had them. You can't lose something you never had. My friends are another matter. I actually had them, they were always there for me and now they're leaving me. I knew this was going to happen but I didn't know it would hurt so much to see my bestfriends replace me with new best friends. It probably only hurts so much because I can't do the same. No matter how long we've been apart, everyone else I befriend, they're still my best friends. Stephanie's the last one left and even when we delude ourselves by talking about sharing a house or whatever after college I know it won't happen. It would be great if we could but we're going to go our different ways to become the people we really are.
whatever, I know life sucks right now, it'll get better, it's better not to dwell on the past and things we can't change. blah,blah,blah. I think death of my friendships deserves a bit of a cry though and I'm tired of being sad alone. I'll grow up tomorrow but today I think I'll just be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
But what started this? one might wonder. I'm at the bottom of my bestfriend's friend list. That in itself isn't so troubling it's just what it means to me.

"She couldn't fix everything, for the simple reason that the only person she cared about was past fixing." -Specials

2007-10-20T20:26:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm rereading the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. It's really an amazing series and I recommend it to everyone. It makes me sad though because my favorite book crush ever dies. *sigh*
Speaking of playstations (yeah, I know I wasn't talking about playstation. Just go with it), ever since I played Guitar Hero at Batchelor's house I've been plotting to procure a playstation and Guitar Hero. My plans have finally come to fruition. I just won a couple of bids on ebay and I'm going to get a playstation 2 and Guitar Hero 2. Sadly, I've never had a playstation, Nintendo, x-box, whatever. I don't really like video games at all but I loved Guitar Hero. Urgh...my head hurts, I've been relishing the last of my freedom with complete lethargy and now I have a crick in my neck. I think I'll go take some advil.
Anyway I didn't lay around the house the whole vacation. I went out and played soccer with my dad, practiced sword fighting, climbed up the sides of my porch a couple of times (made my bruises even bigger), hung upside down off the monkey bars, and went to the senior night football game. They read off a list of the things you like to do when they call your name for senior night and Andrea couldn't believe I liked ATVs and offroading. It was surprising how little people (that I basically live with all year) know about me, how everyone makes judgements about people based on a startlingly miniscule amount of information. I thought about this a lot and decided a long time ago that everyone has something good to offer; I just have to wait and see if they show me their good side.
well that was ranty.

Heroes

2007-10-03T22:33:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching heroes season 2 episode 2 and I think this season could be even better than the first one. After all, Peter is in Ireland, can't go wrong with Ireland. Anyway, if you kids want to watch heroes, all the episodes are on heroesshow.blogspot.com. It took me forever to find a site that had good quality versions of the new episodes that I didn't have to download. So there it is, sharing the knowledge in hopes that you all won't experiencing the mind frying rage of not being able to find a watchable version of heroes. I know Kriegy didn't know what the new season's about so here's a rundown. In the first season a virus is discovered that attacks only those with powers, that virus is spreading and Mohinder Suresh's blood is the only cure so far. Meanwhile, Hiro has traveled back in time and meets his hero Takezo Kensei whose symbol is, in modern times, also the symbol for the mysterious group that Angela Petrelli, Hiro's dad, Lenderman, etc. belong to. Someone is now hunting down the members of that group and notifying them of their impending demise by giving them a picture of themself with the symbol painted over their faces. There are nine members of the group and it is supposedly one of them that is killing off the rest. Claire's dad receives word of Hiro's father's death and pulls out a painting that he obtained from Isaac that portrayed his death and apparently it is just one of a series of eight that Claire's dad has enlisted the help of Mohinder and the Haiitian to find. Speaking of Claire, she's being forced to live as the untalented Claire Butler in the wonderful county of Costa Verde, California where, surprise surprise, she meets another "hero" who discovers her healing abilities despite her unremarkable facade.
Well, that's it kiddies so watch up!

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!!!!!!!!

2007-10-02T17:06:00.000-04:00

WHEE!!! I love Halloween. It has got to be the coolest holiday ever. You get to dress up and people give you free candy not to mention it's the Wiccan new year. hmm... i have to find my wheel of the year again. Effie, I don't know what to do, I want to put out the Samhain mat thing your mom made me but it's so awesome I don't want to put it on the ground. I'm thinking about attaching it to the outside of my door somehow. I need a nap. I really miss nap time, I wish we lived in Spain or something where they all have siestas no matter how old they are. BUAHAHA, i made an eight on one of my extended paragraphs and a 6/7 on the other, that was awesome. I had to spend more time than normal on them though and didn't have time to finish the last one. Good news, I've already finished my homework, that's a first.Haha, I'm watching cops get shot in the back with tasers on t.v. in an effort to reduce both taser use and lethal weapons. OMG, the reporter volunteered to get shot with the taser as well. WTF, there's a public school representative for dekalb county schools that's pulling for single gender schools, yeah I'm sure that whole "separate but equal" thing will work out better this time. Ooh, another story. "A chocolate lover's nightmare" a chocolate transport truck overturned and held up traffic for a while. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? That should be every chocolate lover's dream, free chocolate, 40,000 lbs. to be exact. aw darn, no chocolate was spilled, never mind. What ami doing? I'm gonna go watch avatar or heroes or something, no more news. hehe...school fire(just a little one) from fireworks...

I'm sleepy

2007-10-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

I just got back from band practice and I'm tired. I probably should have thought through my wardrobe today. Giant baggy jeans and a black tee aren't really the best to go to practice. Luckily i remember (at the last minute) to wear the right shoes though. I use though a lot and such as and after all. Kriegy if you're reading this please completely disregard this in reference to the papers i write for you in the future, cuz I'm probably not gonna stop. *sigh* I have to go write some music and do other stuff for college. I wish there was some sort of insta-composer, squirt some here and win an award tomorrow! I don't even know if i'll be able to do what i want, or even if I'll get into the school I want. Hmmm... Don't you dare tell anyone this but I don't think I like this year's freshmen as well as I did the other years'. They're too bossy and loud and they don't know what they're talking about and I wish I could tell them that but believe it or not I'm a nice person, at least in band (I give them candy, come on, i should win band leader of the year just for not yelling at them like a maniac). On a slightly related note NarutoChic (No names) is freaking me out a bit with her hate of Durbin. I mean she used to basically worship the man and now she doesn't like him because he gave her an eighty or something on a project when she was talking about how they're doing gender roles and she's talking about hermaphrodites. That IS going a bit off topic. I told her, there is a certain amount of conformity that comes with going to school, if only so you don't make other peoples' lives unbearable and chaotic. Like that crazy suicide paper we got for Pathway's DON'T SUBMIT THAT CRAP TO A SCHOOL MAGAZINE!!! That's just begging for someone to haul you away to the funny farm and for what, we can't put that in the magazine even if it was really good (though if effie and i had considered it good we would have snuck it in anyway). And they call us depressing (those with enough opinion to share it with the rest of the world in the newspaper) and aberrant (Norm Cooper), I wonder what they'd say if we let them have the unscreened version. At least we intersperse it with some happy stuff. *sigh* I should start writing for Pathways now but 'on't wannu, 'ON'T WANNU!!! I wonder if I submitted an original piece of music if we'd put it under art or prose, because it's pretty to look at and I had to write it. Ah well, food for thought.

Band Stuff

2007-09-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

Well, we went this Saturday to the Lake Lanier Band Competition and we did pretty well. We didn't place in class or anything like that but we did get straight 2's for the band, a 2 for drum major, a 2 for percussion, and a 1 for guard who also placed second in class. The eight captains had to stand there forever while they called the awards and scores and my hands were frozen. Jamie said that we weren't cold, the guard members were cold because part of their uniforms is mesh. Fine, but if we can't be cold then i don't want to hear them complain about being hot ever again. After we were all back on the buses I went around with the candy I used to bribe the woodwinds into doing well. yep, they love me. We did see this one psychotic band that I have no idea how they have so many members. A girl, who I'm assuming was their drum major, was yelling at them telling them all to shutup (we were about five hundred yards away from the stadium at this point therefore it was completely unnecessary for them to be dead silent) and that if they wanted to win they had better start acting like it right now, oh yeah, they were all at the fall in position too. The chaperones woke everyone one up on the buses a few minutes before we got back to the band room at 1 am. I put the award I had carried on the table and I got out of there (after putting my uniform and stuff up). My dad took me to huddle house where my mom and some of my friends were hanging out and I bought some biscuits and gravy, and milk, I love milk. I ate most of it when I got home and then I passed out at about 2 am then my mom's alarm clock woke me up at 8:30 so I woke her up and went back to bed. I think I woke up at 12 this last time and ate a slice of pizza and played with my nieces and made some lemonade. I think I"ll bring Kriegy some lemonade on Monday. *wonders if she could bring her lunch too and, if so, what she should make* possibly soup again but I don't like to repeat myself. Ooh, ooh, ooh, Kriegy don't tell anyone but guess what I'm gonna be for Halloween. V from V for Vendetta, hehehe one of the best movies of the world. Urgh, you should have read that journal instead of my extended paragraphs I thought it was actually pretty good. *sigh*

Posty, post, post

2007-09-26T20:13:00.000-04:00

You want to know something totally random? Alrighty then. Today i actually got to go home and just, you know, hang around for a little bit but then my dad get's a call from an older lady. my dad runs his own business where he repairs appliances, the lady called for him to come fix her printer because it wasn't working. My dad knows a little bit about computers so he asked me if i wanted to go fix it (I work on computers and stuff in the library and I've had computer classes so it's not like he picked a completely unqualified person), anyway i didn't have anything to do so i said yes. i go and fix the ladies printer, it wasn't really the printer just a problem witht he computer not sending info properly, and for less than an hour's worth of work she paid us forty bucks. Granted i gave my dad five bucks for gas, but still thirty five dollars is a good haul for less than an hour. So, for all those people who are mystified as to how i have no official 'job' and still somehow have money, no, i do not actually work for the mafia (unless you the count the book mafia but that's completely voluntary).

Highway to Hell

2007-09-23T10:12:00.000-04:00

HAHAHa!!! I drove all the way to the town center mall yesterday BY MYSELF!! that is the farthest I've ever driven without a relative, stephanie was with me though. I stopped at my cousin's house on the way down there and she gave me my birthday present that she's been carrying around since june. it's a little angel playing the flute and it's now hanging from my rearview mirror. Once we got to the mall we hit up my two favorite stores, Spencer's and Hot topic. Guess what, as soon as we walked into the store we saw Deana and Ashley, that kind of freaked us out. Anyway, Spencer's was so awesome too, it had all of the Halloween stuff set up so I ended up changing what i wanted to be for halloween and buying a costume accesory from them. There was a costume there that made stephanie and i say, "Richard should be that for Halloween." It was a costume called tricky Dick and you could probably imagine what it was. I came so close to buying this awesome green glove that said 'official irish drinking glove.' I don't drink yet but it still would have been funny. I didn't get anything from Hot Topic this time but we went to Bath and Body works where I spent the remainder of my non-food money. OH yeah, at Spencer's i bought some purple hair dye and a Captain Jack Sparrow Beard for drama club. Unfortunately this year we will not be able to do Spamalot or Monty Python and the HOly Grail because some people had problems with their parents letting them be in those productions. Some might do a few scenes from Monty Python though. I think this production will be very wicked so everybody come watch us!!!

Dance with the Devil

2007-09-21T13:25:00.000-04:00

well today is spirit day and i'm all dressed up. And Krieger I'm here rittenhouse just said he forgot to tell you that dakota and i will be in the parade with the band so if you're taking roll for fourth block then count us here please. The seniors went and stole the paint and my yellow paper from the library so stephanie and i went to track them down they said they got the paint from mrs. payne so hopefully we'll get it back sometime. Oh well, time to go enjoy my music some more.

breathe your life into me
I still need you I'm falling.
falling faster
Breathe your life into me

Today was one of the worst days ever

2007-09-18T22:11:00.000-04:00

Today was just one of those days. I almost had a couple of nervous break downs but i held it together. it seems like you see kids freaking out every day now though. I personally know a couple like Erica Bunpermkoon and Ashley Lloyd. I don't get it. I almost flew off the handle.
a direct quote from today in math.
Me: "I don't know."
Person: "What do you mean you don't know? You're Angela, you're supposed to know, that's what you do."
I'm not a mythical freaking creature, i don't have the answers to everything especially when i just sat through the same lesson you did and learned the exact same thing and wasn't even here for two days when you learned the basis for the lesson today. I know i got a one hundred on the quiz over the section you did when i was out but it doesn't mean i can just spring ahead and teach you and answer your freaking questions like i always do. IT BOTHERS ME!!!! People put you on a pedestal and take every chance they get to kick it out from under your feet.
I'm sorry this post is so negative, i just had a really bad day today and it makes me want to just go be a bum on the street.
I also found out today that i have a higher GPA than Robert but I'm still second in class. What is with that?

Bah Bah Black Sheep, have you any wool?

2007-09-13T13:17:00.000-04:00

We're almost done with rebarcoding the books in the library so right now i'm just sitting here, checking the only blog the school still lets us view. It seems like they're cracking down on random stuff now. yesterday we were stopped by mr. kelley when we were taking our lunch from the lunch room back to the library. apparently you're not allowed to bring food back into the building. Well the very way he phrased it allows for some loopholes. If i had taken the food through the halls instead of going outside would that technically count as taking it back into the building? Stephanie and I are also considering just bringing our lunches from now on and eating them in the library anyway. Hey Kriegy, we might even let you in on the library lunches and just bring you food and eat with you. A diet should consist of more than pop tarts and pudding cups. I think i'll bring you some of my awesome lemonade when we start bringing our lunches. well, I'm off to go do whatever librarians do when there's no one in the library...buahaha

The perks of being on steroids

2007-09-12T22:09:00.000-04:00

Well i was wondering kids, are steroids completely illegal or are they just considered unethical in the case of professional athletes and body builders? Ah well, on to my actual point. I'm feeling much better now after my second go at the medicines. I started feeling pretty horrible at school but hey, i got completely caught up in economics and analysis, i even almost got everything done for AP Language. I should be fine by the end of the week though.
Does anybody know how one might go about raising his or her class rank? How do they calculate that anyway? I don't think i could beat the Robert-tron if it was based solely on gpa. well i probably could but i'm not willing to turn into a completely soulless workbot, I NEED A LIFE TOO!!! Ahhh, my families been turning the thumbscrews trying to get me to pick a definite major for college. i don't know, at this point it would be great if someone would just decide for me. I love music and would enjoy composing music for films like john williams and danny elfman do but i also want to be a doctor or publisher and i've always wanted to start my own business, like a day spa. BAH!!! I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!! Effie (Stephanie) has joined the darkside and decided on a major, she wants to be a history teacher. that seems great for her but it makes me sad that i can't say "hey, yeah this is what i want to do."
It just seems like with all these years of school i haven't gotten any real experience that would allow me to make an educated decision on what i'm actually good at.]
Let's not end on a potentially depressing point though, tralala Pathways' writing and art competition is starting early thanks the incessant pleadings of effie and myself. So kiddies, got songs, short stories, drawings, or photos? If you do submit them to Pathways and you might even win some money in time for christmas.

stages of sickness

2007-09-11T13:55:00.000-04:00

well, i'm sick kids. that's right it's that phase, the phase of being sick where i actually admit i'm sick. this usually happens right before i get well. so this means i usually end up with about two large phases of sick with occasional smaller phases mixed in. the first phase of sick is the denial phase where i say things like "I'm fine" that are complete and utter lies but i'm unaware at the time that they are untruths. but i've gone too far into the phases, at the beginning no one notices i'm sick, i just tend to sleep a bit more and go out a bit less. after a day or so of this, no matter how much i've slept i look like the walking dead and this is when people start asking things like, "Are you okay?" at which point i reply with one of my handy untruths. after this point, but still in the denial phase, i'm actually sick. fevery, nauseous, you name it and usually that very night i become inexplicably pessimistic, "omg, I'm not ready for college. what am i going to do with my life?" etc. It's usually right about then that i start to think, "Hey, am I sick?" and my body replies, "Yes, run for the bathroom." Even after i know i'm sick i tend to power through a couple more days until I give out and can't lift my bookbag, or for that matter can't even walk without falling or running into things (by the way, i fell when i tried to answer the phone and banged up my forearms). For these days of recuperation I feel pretty fine (it's hard to judge though because at this point i've started taking medication) except for the random boughts of sleepiness and noodlyness and the temperature jumps. ah well, that's my life and right now my parents are mandhandling me into going to the doctor. It's working quite well because i'm not up to fighting them at the moment but even in this weakened state it's taken them three days to break me down. I think that qualifies me for the CIA, especially since the CIA has probably never been questioned by my mom.

I can't think of a title right now.

2007-09-06T22:42:00.000-04:00

So, i've almost finished my senior ad thing. it's kind of depressing having to get my own ad together but i understand. my mom went on vacation and she's handled all the paperwork for years so i was kind of afraid to ask my dad to do it. they both wrote some pretty cool things for me though. i have to print them off tomorrow. Did you know that along with sat fee waivers the guidance office has application fee waivers for universities? it's pretty awesome and the ones i want to apply to were almost all on there. HAHA... my brother is listening to bombtrack by rage against the machine and i had to tell him how we listened to it in AP. we listened to it after i had just written a paragraph for batchelor that i called rage against the machine too. funny how life works out sometimes.
is it so horrible that i've waited to take the sat? Kriegy frowned upon the 12 II kids for not taking it yet so i just kind of sat quietly in my chair. Ah well, it's not like i don't have time. speaking of though, i do need to finish registering for the sat.

Hot Pink Emos

2007-09-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of little emo freshmen running around and they're not even the dark emo, they're the odd hot pink emo where they wear outrageously colorful clothes with the studded belts and hair in one of their eyes. i don't mind the little emo children it's just there are so many of them they're not different anymore. Like i told someone the other day sometimes you have to be normal to be different. I've also been thinking about spanish. I'm not spanish, in fact i'm Irish and Scottish, yet i know how to speak some spanish and no gaelic. Why is that? I really want to learn gaelic but there's no one to teach me and the words are very hard for me because i've grown up in a black hole that's devoid of my own culture. I don't get that. Why do some families speak their native tongue generations after immigration and others change their names as soon as they hit ellis island? I don't know, but on to other subjects. i went to the guidance counselor's office and no one was there. it's never just one person that leaves an office it's the whole staff. I really need to pick up a fee waiver for the sat so i hope they're there soon.
there's an odd amount of peope that just come up and talk to me now. I got used to the deluge of greetings in the halls a long time ago but now it seems like everyone just comes up to me and tries to have an entire conversation. I don't even know most of the people and it kinda freaks me out. They're mostly freshmen too. Oh well, I suppose I'll go find something useful to do in the library now.

I Hate the SAT

2007-09-04T17:52:00.000-04:00

Guess what I did yesterday kids? Well, I spent HOURS filling out the paper registration form for the SAT because the online registration paper I got from the counselor's office said I couldn't register online because I have not taken the SAT before. WRONG!!!!!! AHHH!!!!! I can register online even though i've never taken the SAT before and they even still have my info. from the PSAT. After that, at about ten I complete my research paper for calculus because like an idiot i thought it was due today. It wasn't even due until Friday and both Stephanie and I did it and turned it in early and had to scramble to finish our essays for Krieger during the time we work in the library. It's actually all pretty funny, even to me. Ah well, laugh at life it'll kill you in the end anyway blah, blah, blah. Well my clubs officially start this week (excluding band which is practically a 365 days a year thing) and i think i might go crazy. I have something to do everyday of the week and pretty much guaranteed homework. I love it. I know, but I told you I'd go crazy. I love everything i participate in and i like feeling I can conquer anything my advanced classes throw at me. It's pretty fun when I'm not passing out from exhaustion. Nah, I'm kidding I only pass out from heat exhaustion after band (Yeah, I'm still just kidding). Anyway speaking of band, I have to go get ready for practice.

The prettiest eyes ever

2007-08-29T19:20:00.000-04:00

My youngest niece, Zoe, is here and she has the prettiest blue eyes ever. They're barely even blue in the center, it's like they're white. I have tonight basically free, except for homework, so I think I'll hang out with her, read some more, and watch a much deserved movie. My mom and I rented Thank You For Smoking and I want to watch it again before I have to take it back. Gosh I'm tired. My little green notebook is really very invaluable to me. I've already forgotten what I'm supposed to do tonight. It doesn't really matter though, I usually end up doing most of it at school...the next day. Ooh, today during my third block, when i peer facilitate in the library, I was rebarcoding movies and Romeo and Juliet the 1968 version was missing! I'm so mad. I can't find that version anywhere and suddenly I find the barcode for it and get all excited and IT'S NOT THERE!!!!! GARRRR!!!!!... I'll see if Krieger will just let me borrow her's, oh yeah I need to give Black Adder back to her. Well I'll go put it in my backpack before I forget.