It's All About The Exposure

We shall start at the beginning.
First, Spanish. IT WAS SO EASY. We spent like, half an hour, figuring out how to say "my name is". And my instructor has a good sense of humor, so all seems well with that class.
After Spanish on Mondays and Wednesdays, I come home for two hours to an empty house and either read, spend too much time on the Internet, or anything else, really.
Then I go to Drawing and Composition for two hours.
Today was the first time we actually did something though. I haven't actually, you know, drawn something in a really long time, so it was weird for me to pick up on still life again. It took a little bit until I felt completely comfortable sketching with a charcoal stick. Thing. Anyway, I liked it. Not as much as I used to, but I think it's going to take some time. My senior year really made me dislike all things art, so I'm not sure if I'll really be able to enjoy drawing to the fullest extent again.
But, boy, do I love ceramics! Which is what I do on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Except I'll be in the ceramics studio a lot more than that, I guarantee it. I've definitely made up my mind that I want to have ceramics as my concentration. Now I just need to get into a school's art program to do it...

On Tuesday evenings at 5:15, for three hours of awesome, I have Young Adult Literature.
My professor is fantastic. I don't generally like female professors, at least from my college experience so far, but I really like her. She also has a good sense of humor. Whilst mentioning that Twilight is, in fact, a YA book, she said that anyone who's an English major should never read the series while holding a red pen. Amen to that.

Since I'm on the note of YA Li. right now, I should also mention that the books I have to read for this class are going to be AWESOME. Today I bought The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan, Shooter by Walter Dean Myers, The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Also, I have to o a two-minute presentation of Paper Towns next Tuesday explaining to the class why everyone should read it. The catch is that I have to have five props. So I went to Target today and bought a plastic toy cow (the last one...I don't why it was the last. Who buys toy cows?), a Hot Wheels van (it's not a mini-van. Apparently Hot Wheels doesn't make those), and a pack of dollar section map flash cards. I felt very awkward at checkout.
I'm also going to use a Santa figure from our Christmas decorations and my book of Walt Whitman poetry that I randomly have from eleventh grade.

I still have to find YA books that fit into the Horror genre. Any suggestions??

I love my classes. But I do not love transfer applications and rebuilding my portfolio.
Hakuna matada, I suppose.

Later days.


Song of the Day: "Where The Lines Overlap" by Paramore. Hayley Williams' voice is cRaZy awesome. It's probably because she's crazy awesome. Just a thought.
Film of the Day: Legion (2010). This comes out on the 22nd of this month. I have the poster on my wall of movie posters. Which isn't saying a lot since every wall in my room has a movie poster on it. Anyway, I love Paul Bettany. Amen.

I Think You Can In Europe

School is tomorrow. Really this time.

I'm very excited for Spanish. I hope I still remember most of what I learned two years ago. Except for Mrs. Hangtin's (Hantgin? Hangtin? She was a witch either way) class in senior year, that was a JOKE. I think I was the only person in that entire class that didn't cheat on my tests but still ended up getting the best grade. It's crazy what happens when you actually learn.

I can't stop listening to He Is We and The Ranger$. Two extremely different styles of music, but both full of energy and awesomeness.

I feel like this blog is going to be one of those that has no real point. You know, like when I just start typing out everything that I think of when I think it. No real structure. Not that I care, clearly.

This reminds me of Ms. Steele, my 10th grade English and World History teacher. Apparently she's married now, and her name is something that is way more complicated to say than "Steele". Anyway, she has always been one of my most favorite teachers ever because she was always willing to listen whenever I had something to say, regardless of how unimportant it was. She's just one of those generally nice, cool people that you completely respect because of how awesome they are.

During the beginning of my senior year before I switched schools, I used to be late to my fifth period just so I could sneak into Steele's sophomore class and sit in an empty seat, waiting until she noticed I was there. She never did. I would just stand up after a few minutes, shake my head, and say, "Miss Steele, you didn't notice me? Really? Oh well, I guess I'll have to try again next week." She never cared that I did that, like so many other teachers would have.

I'm having a lot of fun recording Foundation songs. At first, it was a little frustrating to have to learn about a new program to record and mix audio, and all the awesomeness that comes with that, but I got through it and now I love it. Though it would be easier if I didn't have a PC. Just saying.

The classes I will be taking this semester are:

-Beginning Spanish 1
-Intro to Ceramics (except it's basically independent/advanced for me since I took it already. I just couldn't fit the actual advanced class into my schedule)

-Intro to Drawing

-Young Adult Literature

I'm pretty stoked about that last one. I just hope we'll read some good stuff. Also, it gives me a chance to talk about John Green and Maureen Johnson more than I already do.

Okay, I'm done rambling.

Later days.

Songs of the Day: "Pin Drop" by The Ranger$ and "A Mess It Grows" by He Is We. Both are available on itunessss.

Film of the Day: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). To this day, this movie has one of my favorite casts ever. And some of the most...memorable quotes.

"I like my Sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack."

"But I love my Sketchers."

"That's because you don't have a Prada backpack."

Oh, the nineties.

Daybreakers Was Awesome. Unless You Don't Like Vampire Movies. Then It Probably Sucked.

If you've ever met me, or read almost any of my blogs, you will know that I'm a HUGE movie buff. If you didn't know that, I just told you. Anyway, I watch a lot of movies, probably way to many of them, and I spend far too much time reading about them and their actors and directors on Internet Movie Database.
I went to see Daybreakers (2009) on January 8th (which is actually in 2010, I am aware of this, but the movie was completely done in 2009, so...yeah), the day it came out in theatres. Without giving too much away, the whole idea of the movie is that about 95% of the human race has been transformed into vampires by the year 2019, and at this time, there are literally military positions for vampires that are human hunters, so that the humans may be taken to various establishments in different countries to be farmed for their blood. However, blood supply is running low, and doctors are striving to find a blood substitute, but failing horribly. Let's just say that the tests they run with the earlier stages of the blood substitute quite literally blow up in their faces.
The main doctor on this team searching for the blood substitute is Ethan Hawke's character, Edward Dalton. Whether or not the name Edward is a horribly hilarious coincidence or not, the theatre started laughing when they learned that the main character was such. Dalton is very much opposed to the idea of drinking human blood and probably wants a solution to the blood deprivation problem more than anyone. Or rather, a cure, perhaps. Whichever, it needs to be done fast, because those vampires that are being starved of blood transform into what are called "subsiders", some sort of creature that looses all forms of logic and knowledge of anything around them. In fact, the best way I can think of how to describe them is a vampire...zombie. With wings and claws and the ability to walk on ceilings. But I digress.
After hiding a group of humans to help them escape from police, Dalton earns some of their trust, and they are willing to collaborate with him in ways so that what he desires may become true: there could in fact be a way to stop vampires from becoming subsiders, or stop vampires from being vampires all together.
But despite a solution, will the entire world want to stop?

As for the acting, it was good enough for me. Willem Dafoe was my personal favorite. He was definitely the comedic relief in the film.

Keep in mind, this movie is not for the weak stomached. There is a lot of blood and it looks pretty darn real most of the time. These folks knew how to make a vampire movie.
Also, it is rated R, and for good reasons: there is a good amount of language, intense action and violent fighting, and some very adult humor, so don't take grandma and the kids for a night on the town to see this.

Overall it was filled with blood, vampires, killing, loving, dying, heartache, and betrayal. So, naturally, it was pretty darn good.



On a completely different note, I put up a new and improved song on the Foundation of Fair Fortune MySpace (link over on the right).

I've already mentioned enough about music and films, so I think you can go without a song or film of the day.

Later days.

Gangsta Rap Days

I was driving in the Suburban today instead of Vito Corleone (my Jimmy), and I was looking for something to listen to because radio stations in southern Utah are horrible. Inside the self-titled Taylor Swift CD case, I found a mix CD that was labeled "music for driving". I thought, Oh, I probably made this, because I used to make lame CDs labeled like that. popped the sucker into the CD player and skimmed through the songs, only to hear GANGSTA RAP GALORE. I must have made this. Back in my extreme gangsta rap days (aka junior year). It contained a good amount of songs by The Game, Ying Yang Twins, and Snoop Dog.

That was kind of the high light of my day so far. Besides that, my mom was admitted to the hospital from the emergency room, for reasons I haven't been told yet.



Ugh.



I have to submit three required drawings in graphite on white paper for my RISD application. I hate doing required art that is so specific. I treat it like a school assignment and feel like it's way too difficult to put my whole heart into. But I'm forcing myself to do it, and do a good job. I'm about 1/4 way through the first one, but my light changed on my subject too much to continue it today, so I'll hopefully finish tomorrow. I'll start another one later tonight.

But for now, I'm going to go play some music, maybe even record the music for a song or two...who knows :]



Later days.





Song of the Day: "Light A Way" by He Is We
Film of the Day: State of Play (2009). I finally got around to watching this movie last week, and I really liked it. I'm too lazy to elaborate on why, so just trust me, I guess.

Orange Juice?

My hands hurt. Why, you ask? Because I was forced against my will this morning to juice around 20 oranges and tangerines, BY HAND, MIND YOU.
Well not forced, but asked to. And I was in bed when I was asked to, and didn't want to get up, so I was grumpy about it. But my hands still hurt.
And just because the orange juice was absolutely delicious doesn't mean I'm not going complain.

I've also been playing all of my songs for Foundation over and over and over and over and...yeah. Practice makes perfect, even if I hate doing it after only ten minutes.

My mom and bonded over M&M's and The Proposal today. Good times.

I found two skateboards today in the garage that I was working on over two years ago. One is kind of warped with air bubbles forming under the primer...so I guess it'll be heading for the trash. I can't get attached to my work, whether it be pots or pieces of wood. It's hard, but necessary, or else I would throw a freaking fit every time I broke a perfectly trimmed piece of pottery (which happens way too often).
Anyway, I'll be finishing up and designing the graphics of the other board tomorrow. I'm excited. I haven't made a skateboard since my junior year...nostalgiaaaa.

I'm planning a video for this week. Hopefully it will turn out how I want it too. It's kind of annoying that Premiere doesn't work on my computer, I really enjoyed working with that program back in the day.

I'm nervous about transfer applications. Mainly just about putting together my portfolio and making more pieces for it. I need at least 12. I have like...6 or 7. They're all drawing and painting pieces, but I need to make some pots to photograph. And I might submit, like, one photo. Maybe. We'll see...I just have a lot of work ahead of me for this month.

Later Days.

Song of the Day: "Teach Me How to Jerk" by Audio Push. I know I know I know. Really??? But seriously. Playing this loudly in my car with the bass turned up driving through St. George, Utah (one of the most conservative towns in Utah, in my opinion) and dancing to it at red lights to annoy/embarrass my brothers makes this song soooo good (Well hello, run on sentence, how are you?). Plus, jerkin' is way fun when you know how to do it. Just sayin'.
Film of the Day: Daybreakers (2010). It comes out Fridayyy. It looks good. And I'm just generally exited/curious to see if Ethan Hawke can do another good movie ever again, because, I mean...come on. Taking Lives (2004) was good and all, but when can we see another Gattaca (1997)?

Indecisive Me

School tomorrow.

I'm excited for this semester. That is, unless I get into UW, then I will discontinue going to Dixie and be on my way to Seattle in March. Otherwise, I'm exited.

If I don't get into Washington, and I have this nagging feeling that I wont, I have decided which schools I will be applying to for the Fall:

-University of Washington (again)

-Road Island School of Design

-Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film

And maybe I will apply to

-Seattle University

-University of Puget Sound

-Portland State University

-Laguna College of Art & Design

Wherever I go, I will be pursuing a degree in art. RISD will be my first choice, then UW, then Watkins, and then the others.

Now. I need to stop looking at schools because I keep wanting to change my mind haha.

Everything all rests on financial aid in the end though, because in reality, I can't afford to go to any schools, including the one I go to now, without basically full coverage, whether it be scholarships, grants, or loans.

It's quite frustrating, really.

I need to get started on essays, drawings, and new pieces for my portfolio.

I have a lot of work to do.

Later days.

PS-Today is awesome because John Green responded to an email I sent him, and I never expected him to respond back to it. W00t.

Song of the Day: "No Moon" by Iron & Wine

Film of the Day: The Education of Charlie Banks (2007)

Recaps and Goals

I don't like that time passes so quickly. It bothers me. But I do enjoy change to some extent, so I let time do it's thing without worrying too much about it (as if I could do something to change what it does).

In the year of two thousand and nine, I made many many new friends at school in northern Utah, then moved away from them in late April, not knowing that I would not return to Weber in the Fall to come. Now that I'm back to living at home and going to a different school, I have basically no good friends within a 350 mile radius of me.
Well, this kind of sucks.
Anyway, I had my fun during my freshman year of college earlier in the year, and I enjoyed being in California for a good chunk of my summer with my Ventura friends and family, but when Fall did eventually roll around, I no longer was having fun.
I wont say I became depressed, because I know what depression is, and I consider myself too happy a person now to fall back into crap like that, but I will say I was less happy. I wasn't lonely, but I felt alone a lot of times, and I didn't really do much to change my situation.

Then November came.
With November came a list of life changing events.
First, I FINALLY got my hands on a copy of Paper Towns and read it. I read Looking For Alaska several years back, pretty much right after it came out, along with Katherines when it did, but I NEVER thought of exploring my love for these books further online. It never even occurred to me at the time that authors of good books go places and do readings, though I did, in fact, know that they did. After reading his third novel, I thought I would look John Green up online because, well, I have nothing else to do.
Before continuing, I would like to point out that John Green changed my life with his writing before he inspired me otherwise.
And then I found it: Brotherhood 2.0.
WHY HAD I NOT FOUND THIS BEFORE? I was a fan before it all started, but I was lame and I never discovered the extent of how much of a fan I could be. I became a Nerdfighter right then and there.
Then I discovered...YouTube. I mean, I had obviously heard of it and used it before. But for...vlogging? What? fiveawesomegirls? vlogbrothers? meekakitty? whatthebuck?
I couldn't believe it. I thought that I was extremely internet savvy, but no. Boy, was I wrong. How wrong I was.

So I gave vlogging a try, as much as I hate that word for some reason. My first vlog was crap. Then I just watched and watched and watched and watch videos on YouTube all the time for about a week. I made friends. This was weird to me considering my recent un-successes doing so "IRL". Then I made more vlogs, and I personally saw growth after about a week.
I'm not looking to be a YouTube sensation like hayleyghoover or anything, I just want to make good videos in the hope that someone (maybe some people) will enjoy watching them.

I also discovered the Harry Potter fandom within all these events unfolding in several weeks. I wont go into that too much because it is a little more special to me (as nerdy as that sounds), I've already written a blog on it, and I've already written a lot, so I'd be completely surprised if you are still reading. In fact, leave a comment telling me you are still reading if you are.

Oh, goals!
My four main goals for the year are to go to VidCon and Wrockstock 4, get into one of the schools I'll be apply to for transfer (that is, if I haven't already..), and complete, and somewhat release, an album, preferably wizard rock for Foundation of Fair Fortune, though I have been writing a lot of muggle music as well. So who knows.
Other goals I have in mind are to make more friends (whether it be IRL or online), get a real job, build an electric guitar, and improve my vlogging skillz and maybe get some more subscribers?? That would be kind of cool. Not really an ego boost as much as a self-esteem one. Not that I need an ego boost, no one ever does, really. Though the two coincide in a sense, really.

But I digress.

Later days.

Song of the Day: "The Only Exception" by Paramore (Brand New Eyes is fantastic, by the way).
Film of the Day: Lords Of Dogtown (2005). It's always been a secret dream of mine to skate like people did when they revolutionized the skating world in '75. The documentary this is based off of is swell too, Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001). I highly recommend both.


PS-if anyone else wants to go to VidCon...I need someone to share a room with or else I won't be able to go. So let me know if you're down.