i like learning, but schooling sucks as a whole

Gosh, I loathe school. I despise having to pay outrageous amounts of money for books that I'll only use for some 15 to 16 weeks. Today, I payed for an biological anthropology book that cost $80. Ridiculous. And for anthrop class, we had to buy something called a "CPS remote" or something so that we can use it to take tests and quizzes. Unbelieveable. Apparantly, a load of colleges and universities use them. Whatever happened to scantrons?!

It was sunny today and beautiful. These trees by the dining center had these light pink blossoms that were blooming and everything, and it was gorgeous.

The only thing that has helped me get through the day is my Orlando Bloom calendar, oh, and the beautiful sunshine. My roommate hates it with a passion--the calendar. It's hanging on my bulletin board.

back again...sigh

School starts tomorrow. I arrived yesterday with my parents. They drove me, and it was awesome. On the Grapevine--the part of the drive that goes through the mountains--it snowed. It wasn't real snow, actually. Dad called it "little slushies". It was beautiful. It was as if the mountains were dusted with powdered sugar.

We stopped at Gilroy for the outlets. I bought jeans and two sweaters. Lovely. Mom and Dad each got a pair of shoes. When we arrived in San Francisco, we dropped off my stuff and then all three of us and my roommate and my brother's girlfriend (don't ask--long story) ate out for dinner together. It was nice.

I got new glasses before I left. They're really cool. They're brown and white swirled together in the frames--"creamy tortoise" or something. I got fitted for contacts too. I'm wearing them right now, actually. I don't like them much, but I'm going to try to wear contacts more often. I think I hide behind my glasses.

I've got three classes tomorrow: first semestre French, intro to anthropology, and speech. Wish me luck.

disneyland

We had a wonderful time at Disneyland. It was awesome. Lots of laughs. There weren't a lot of people, which is good because then the lines aren't as long. It was really fun to just watch people too. There were tons of little kids. We drove separately, and I was on the tram to go to the park, and this dad sitting across from me strikes up a conversation with me. He had two little girls and a little boy. I learned that he was from Utah and that it was a tradition for them to go to Disneyland in January. He let his kids skip school! Anyway, that was cool.

We also went to California Adventure--our passes are good for both parks. Saw the Muppet 3-D show, which was funny! The Muppets are just funny. I like Beaker and Animal. My throat aches from so much screaming. I had a swell time.

I have no clue what I'm going to do tomorrow.

the last week

I can't believe that this time next week I'll be in class. What a cruel, cruel world we live in. I don't want to think about whether or not I made the most of my six weeks of vacation. I always do that, and I always end up feeling bad about myself. The past is past, and I had a good time despite the fact that I didn't do what I had planned to do six weeks ago (i.e. edit films). Okay, I'm over it. New paragraph.

Tommorow, I'm going to Disneyland with my friend. We have annual passes that expire in March, so we're going to make the most of it. I must have been there like 6 or 7 times since I got it. Three visits alone can cover the cost of an annual pass.

The other day I had the sudden impulse to just drive. It was nice being out of the house. I won't be able to do that again for a while...

my driving music: "mr. blue sky" by elo, "surfing on a rocket" by air, "let go" by frou frou, "a life less ordinary" by ash, "this is the day" by ivy, and "possibility" by thomas newman.

poetic

I just love it when I come across a song that's not only pleasant to listen to but also has great lyrics. They're very beautiful. The song is called "A Life Less Ordinary" by Ash, and it can be found on the "A Life Less Ordinary" soundtrack. It's a cool film by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 days later), and it's got Ewan McGregor. I find him so funny in this film. I bought the dvd at Best Buy two weeks ago (6 bucks!!!). Hope you like it.

“a life less ordinary” by ash
I smoke myself into a haze in the afternoon
Enveloped heart
And the air is cool
Put on your dress
White Goddess --(I love how he says, "white goddess")
And settle in as the weather folds
In the slow haze of the afternoon
Swaying hips
Made like a gun
Blackest sails
The most beautiful
Star in the world
In the air
On my tongue
Before my eyes
Beyond the stars
Beneath the sun

So take me in your arms again
Lead me in your dreams again
So what is it worth
I'll sell my soul
What is it worth
Only you know

You were conceived in my heart
Came like a dream
To save me from my mortality
Put on your dress
White Goddess
And settle in as the weather folds
[Our lives will be entwined
Even when I die]--(these are my favorite lines)
You'll see me through 'till the end of time
No earthly bride
The most beautiful
Star in the world
In the air
On my tongue
Before my eyes
Beyond the stars
Beneath the sun

Take me in your arms again
Lead me in your dreams again
So what is it worth
I'll sell my soul
So what is it worth
Only you know

the first step

Went to the video store to rent a movie with my friend. My friend was the one who had the membership, so I was just waiting for her while she paid. This cute guy was working behind the counter, and we made eye contact, but before I can smile he looked away. Rats. I smiled anyway. That's the good thing. Baby steps.

I don't want to go back to school!!! I start the Monday after this coming Monday. Boo. At least I have less classes (four). But I might get a job or find some work in the Cinema department.

recently viewed films:
"True Lies"-- This is the movie we rented. Gosh, it's so hilarious and over-the-top. I love making fun of it.
"Real Genius"-- You have to see this 80s film. Val Kilmer's most comedic role, I think. It's one of those quintessential geek films like "Revenge of the Nerds", only the humor is a bit...smarter?...I dunno. I'd like to see Kilmer do a funny movie again.

reading list:
The Shining by Stephen King
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Best Short Stories by Ring Lardner

mmm...tea

I've become a tea addict. I'd rather call myself a tea connoiseur, but I don't deserve that title yet. I've been making tea a lot over the break, and a couple of days ago I bought my second teapot. It's really cute and look's antique because it's a cast-iron teapot. I love it. My other teapot is porcelain. (I know, I'm a dork.)

It all started in England really. Sometimes I'd have tea for breakfast. I have this little ritual where I put some honey on my spoon and hold it over my cup and then I pour the hot tea over it. I like it sweet, although now I've been tasting my tea first without the honey.

Favorite tea (so far):
1. Earl Grey
2. English Breakfast/Assam (tie)
3. Peach

serendipity

Had a nice time with my friend. We went to the mall to look around and then ate lunch at the food court. It was really cool to hang out with her. She's awesome to talk to.

Afterwards, we went to Best Buy. I was looking in the DVD section, and I saw a movie I haven't seen in a long time, but really liked--"Serendipity". I just had to buy it. I even wrote about it in my last entry! So, I got it and just finished watching it actually. John Cusack's awesome.

Nothing serendipitous happened, but it was a good day. Goodnight all.

sunshine, finally

Yay! The sun's shining in beautiful southern California!! It had been raining pretty badly for the past week or so. Very gloomy. I'll make this quick since Cher's coming over. We're going to go out for lunch and then see where the day takes us from there. I have no clue what we're going to do after lunch. It'll be exciting to find out.

Not many people do this these days--just letting chance take over their day. It's fun and exciting. I love spontaneity and serendipity (nice movie too!). People feel safe in routines, and, in a sense, that's good, but people need randomness and chance too. The reason I'm on this topic is because there was a very good article on serendipity in the LA Times last sunday.

I better go--Cher will be here soon. I'll let you know what will happen today! Take a chance everyone! Be open to it!

reminders

Today was full of little things that reminded me of the boy with glasses. I went over to my friend Cher's (short for Cherilin) in the afternoon to hang out. We were getting ready to leave to go to Best Buy, and as she was putting her shoes on I saw in her shoe closet a pair of red Converses. Just like the ones he wears. I asked if they were hers, and she said yes. I then told her that the boy with glasses wears a pair just like them.

After that, Cher, Char (little sis of Cher and short for Charlene), and I went to Tower Records. There's this guy who works there--I'm sure he's the manager. Anyway, he looks like the grown-up version of the boy with glasses. He's tall, at least 6'1", wears rectangular glasses, and has a fauxhawk. He's quite handsome (of course I would think that). One time I was looking at the dvds, and I turned around suddenly, and he was walking past, and he said quietly, "Excuse me", and I said, "It's okay". It was beautiful and over just like that. Tonight though, he was busy at the cash register.

Gosh! I just got to get over this!! It just about kills me. My friend, Chauncy, gave me this book about how to flirt. The tips are good, but I can't get myself to adopt them. It's hard, you know? To put yourself out there. I guess I just don't want to get hurt. That's the honest truth. But then again, I'm only hurting myself if I let these chances slip away.

It's funny how some simple things are so hard to do. Life's funny...I can write a five page essay on a film, I can put the ink cartridge in the printer, I can play the piano, and yet, I cannot bring myself to walk up to a boy and say "hello".

in the ipod: "across the universe" sung by rufus wainwright

recently watched: "The Big Lebowski"--This film is hilarious. The Coen brothers are amazing.

currently reading: the aformentioned flirt book and "Amelie in Love"

"The Simpsons" cures everything

I woke up today with most massive headache I have ever had in my entire life. So, I spent the whole day in bed with Tylenol in my system. The only thing that did help was watching "The Simpsons". It was this episode where Homer's thumb gets cut off. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard that I forgot I was sick.

I'm going back to bed. Goodnight.

resolution

I rang in the new year at my grandma's house reading old issues of Allure, I kid you not. At midnight I was reading a cheat sheet on applying blush in this bedroom that my grandma has for me for when I sleep over at her house. I just don't like celebrating New Year's. I really don't know why. It's absurd, I know.

Afterwards, around 12:30 or so, I stopped reading and just lied in bed assessing my life and thinking about my resolutions. Here are some:

1. Get fit and healthy. I used to be really overweight, so this has been a recurring resolution for a while. Maybe like three or four years. It's working though, I've lost 25 pounds total. I hope to continue this losing streak.
2. Be more environmentally conscious. Self-explanatory.
3. Try to be more open to people. Another self-explanatory recurring resolution that I can never conquer.
4. Be serious. About filmmaking and scriptwriting, I mean. I have the tools, I'm just too lazy to use them.

That's about it. I might come up with some more. It helps to write (in my case, type) them all out. It feels like a commitment in a way.

I've cleaned up my room. It's so awesome. It's never looked so good. I have a ton of these photographs I took all on display and everything. I like showing them off, especially to myself (haha).

recently played: "jesus of suburbia..." by green day and yann tiersen live ("c'etait ici")

recently read: loads of Allure magazines, "A Knight in Shining Armor" by Jude Deveraux, and starting "Amelie in Love" by Henri Troyat (a lovely and thoughtful Christmas present from my friend, Blue)