Me: I've noticed that I just squander my time. At first I thought it was an internet addiction, but I could just as easily do dishes. Anything to escape from life.

Dora-the-'splorer: Ah, have you been watching a lot of TV?

Me: Yes, exactly.

Dora (excited): Have you been watching The Biggest Loser???

Me: Not this season...

Dora: The finale is on Tuesday and it's going to be SO GOOD!

my online religion and politics instructor is kind of...a bitch.

My sister and I are going on the birthright trip to Israel on May 18, Mayanot Bus 46. I'm so excited! I've pretty much been jumping up and down all day...the adrenaline rush is finally winding down:-p

We're going to extend our trip and visit Egypt and Jordan-- has anyone else done that? We could definitely use suggestions for transportation and must-see sights, etc.

There's something about staying up late-- it brings this funny mix of guilt and pride. And maybe some other things. I don't know exactly. Right now I'm like, "omg, it's nearly 1:30. I should not be up this late, I wanted to wake up at 8 tomorrow..." but at the same time I'm like, "I'm awake later than anyone else. I'm done with my work for the day, and now I can do whatever I want so long as I don't fall asleep." I guess sleep sounds nice, but not nearly as fun as being awake. Maybe if I were better at lucid dreaming. Whenever I figure out I'm dreaming, it just wakes me up:-p They say that gets better with practice though.

Mike, dunno if you're reading, but I've been out of town, but I know you called. How long are you in town? Or did I miss you?

"A New Zealand judge has made a 9-year-old girl a ward of the court so that her name can be changed from Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii, the country's national news agency reported Thursday."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/24/odd.names/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

stolen from satinelune

I'm no good at asking questions, but I don't mind answering them. The problem is that not many people bother to ask. Probably a lack of creative inspiration. So I'll post a list of seven partial questions, and you can just fill in the blanks with whatever you want and I'll answer as best I can, even if they're completely incomprehensible.

1. What do you think of _____________ ?
2. When did you last ____________?
3. __________ or ___________ and why?
4. What did you ______________?
5. What's your favorite ______________?
6. How would you ______________?
7. Who would you most like to ________ ?

So for some reason, when my friends page loads, it's playing AWFUL music.

Does anyone know why this is happening? I expected it to be an entry on my friends list, but I couldn't find one that seemed to be a culprit...no embedded videos, or anything. I thought that livejournal didn't let videos auto-play, anyway? If anyone has any idea where it's coming from, let me know. I kind of want to kill whoever caused it. Or at the very least de-friend them or put them on a filter.

Everyone is pregnant!

I mean, not everyone. But a whole lotta people. Facebook is swimming today with remarks about real easter baskets in nine months and ultrasound pictures. I feel oddly left out...like when I'm ready to have kids, there won't be anyone left having babies, or something. lol.

Anyway. Life is good.

hey people,

That meme is going around-- ask me a question, no matter how personal, it can be asked anonymously, etc. I'm asking other people questions so it's only fair to repost:-) Also, let me know if for some reason anonymous posting isn't working. It should be. So, if you've ever been curious about something, ask a question.

Hope everyone is well in lj-land. Things here are good, things with Nick are great. I'm on spring break, yay! I'm getting to see people I haven't in a while. Dinner with Jill tonight was yum. Helping Julie move (so sad that she'll be farther away this summer, but yay for her soon approaching bambino). Went with Amy for a few days in Santa Barbara with April and Ben, which made me really happy. Life, yay. I like it.

this is amazing.

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

Hey peeps! I'm doing a research paper sort of thing for English, so I was wondering if you could answer these questions. You can write back or repost as a blog; I'll see it either way<3 Thanks muchly.
-Sara


1. What would you like to have happen to your body after you die?

2. If possible, do you want your organs donated? (Why or why not?)

3. Have you thought of what you would want your funeral to be like? (details?)

4. If you were to die today, who would you want to give your eulogy?

5. Which (if any) song(s) would you like played at your funeral?

6. Do you want people to wear black at your funeral?

7. How do you feel about untraditional disposal of the body? (having your ashes turned into diamonds, donating your body to exhibits such as Body World, etc.?) Are there any you would consider?

8. Do you want an open casket?

9. Would you want the ceremony to be religious?

10. Anything else you would like to say?

hi livejournal,

I haven't really updated here in forever. Things are good, though. Things with Nick are fabulous (except sometimes he thinks I'm just using him for his body, but it's not true, I swear!) and school is just fine. Although, I was sick Monday, so I missed classes, and I totally do not want to go back to Geology. blaaah that class is just so LONG. And I feel like I forgot to do something for it.

I need tweezers and pens. And time. I need to practice my oboe. bleck. I really, really, really do not want to go to orchestra rehearsal the night of my birthday. I have to ask about it tomorrow. I think it'll be okay, though...I just need to have willpower and not say why. As long as we're talking about things I need, I'd like a haircut. argh.

ummmm, anyway, I can't think of much else to say right now. HI people in lj-land. I hope you're all well.

quick update-- if you're going to be home at 4:00 p.m. today (Wednesday), watch the Ellen show! Amy, Nick, Lourdes and I got to go see a taping, and we danced with Ellen and Amy got called up to play musical chairs and won a phone and got to hug Ellen! I was jealous. But excited.

It's been a freaking long time since I've posted anything. 22 days? I think that might be a record since I joined lj. Crazy.

Sooo, school and things are good. I like my professors well enough, and I looove Human Sexuality. Amy's at Moorpark with me and we're taking that class together. Double the fun:-)

My Nana passed away a couple weeks ago, and that was really sad. My dad seems like he's being strong like men are "supposed" to be but I think he's really sad. He's been buying lots of frozen blintzes at the supermarket, and I think my Nana made those for him when he was a kid. I feel like I don't know how to express how I miss her, especially since she lived far away so I didn't get to see her often. Maybe I'll write her a letter.

Anyway, I'm pretty tired, so I'm heading to bed. Here's a smile or a tear for you all.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
backpacked, visited new places, lived with friends, have a boyfriend:-)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to exercise regularly. I was good about this through October, but in November I got crazy busy with school and I got sick just as finals ended and have not yet recovered. I think I basically have kept it, though. And this year I'm resolving to learn to cook!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
The closest (emotionally, not geographically) would be my friend Betsy in New Zealand. Other than that, just a couple acquantainces. But there will be at least one in 2008:-)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My best friend from 7th grade, actually. But we hadn't spoken in years and I didn't find out about it until a month or two later.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
transferring to a university would be good.

7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 14th, because I went to a Silent Movie with Mel and Julie for Valentine's Day. March 30th, because the Quad left for Europe. November 27, first date with Nick.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
improving my relationships with people

9. What was your biggest failure?
oh, i botched up this semester a bit. Overworked. It tells you something when school finally ends and you're sick for three weeks straight.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
not until this month! It was a very healthy year otherwise.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
books. Not really any big ticket purchases this year, unless maybe I bought the Eurail pass for my trip in 007.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Dad's. He's changed, in good ways.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
:-( urgh. No comment.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Europe. After that, maybe clothes, books, and social things.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Europe:-) And planning future trips.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Follow You Down, Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms); With or Without You (U2); Grey Street (Dave Matthews Band); Avenue Q soundtrack. Oh, and Stacy's Mom (Fountains of Wayne).

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
about the same:-)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I would say have a less busy schedule, and therefore do more for of my classes and activities instead of being spread so thin.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
eating! I gained all this weight in the last two months. I blame stress.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it at home in the morning with Mom and Amy and Mel, then we had brunch with my mom's best friend's family, and then we went to my mom's cousin's house and sang The Twelve Days of Christmas. And in the evening Amy and I went to our dad's sister's house for festivities there.

21. How will you be spending New Years?
Well, I'm invited to Mel and Mo's, but I feel so sick today that I'm not sure about that.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
ick, love.

23. How many one-night stands?
not really any.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
the only current show I watched at all was Top Model. Still love Friends and Boy Meets World and Gilmore Girls, though.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate people.

26. What was the best book you read?
toss up between Les Miserables and Time Traveler's Wife. Also Lamb. And Love is a Mix Tape.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Grey Street by Dave Matthews Band, and the Gin Blossoms.

28. What did you want and got?
trip to Europe (insert LOTS of things there), got to see Avenue Q and Wicked, an iPod for Christmas (and calligraphy pens), and a rockin' boyfriend. Yay!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
umm maybe Juno, but that might just be because I saw it so recently. Also Roman Holiday. OH, and Knocked Up.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 20 and I went to work and Mel and I had lunch. Julie and I went out to coffee in the evening and then I arrived (late, sorrysorrysorry) at the gathering the Quad was having for me.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It was already amazing, and I don't really want to dwell on what did not happen.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
jeans, flip flops, and a cami or similar. Fun earrings, scarves. Very insistent on wearing color.

34. What kept you sane?
Well, I wasn't necessarily sane. But, friends, family, books, music, and therapy. And my journal.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Paul Rudd, and maybe a bit Helena Bonham Carter.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the presidential debate, maybe.

37. Whom did you miss?
Amy and Julie, whilst in Europe.

38. Whom was the best new person you met?
Nick!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Even if you try your best to do the "right" thing, there isn't always a "right" answer<< this is my answer from last year, but I feel like I continued learning it this year. Also, it is important to communicate what you really mean.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Take what you can from your dreams. Make them as real as anything. -Dave Matthews Band, "Grey Street."

1. Name:
2. Date of birth:
3. Where do you live:
4. What makes you happy:
5. Currently listening/the last thing you listened to:
6. Do you read my journal?:
7. If yes, what makes it especially good or bad?:
8. An interesting fact about you:
9. Are you in love/do you have a crush at the moment?:
10. Favourite place to spend time:
11. Favourite lyric:
12. The best time of the year:

RECOMMEND
1. A film:
2. A book:
3. A band, a song, or album:

PLUS:
1. One thing you like about me:
2. Two things you like about yourself:
3. Look at my friends-list and tell what you like about one of our mutual friends (or whatever):
4. Put this in your journal so that I can tell you what I like about you.

merry christmas!!!!

hey peoples,

So, life is pretty bueno. I have so so so so so much work to do, which is why I am here updating. PROCRASTINATION YAY. Hmm, to stay up all night writing my research paper, or would the sleep hypothetically allow me to write faster in the morning? I should probably stay up at least until I am pretty tired. Right now I only want to sleep to avoid doing work. At least my Calculus final isn't for a few days.

In other things, I have a boyfriend! His name is Nick. I call him Sir Nicholas when we are kidding and he calls me Frammy. I would say more, but he is probably reading, so that could be weird. So I will just say that I am happy. EXCEPT THAT HE IS BEING A BUTT AND LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Silly Nick's family, living near Oakland. (They're technically in Richmond, but that is funny to say because Richmond is also the capital of I think Virginia. They are in Richmond, CA.)

This weekend I saw three movies. Love in a Time of Cholera (with Nick), Enchanted (with Julie), and The Golden Compass (with Kimberly). I enjoyed all of them, though Nick didn't really enjoy the Cholera one (he chose it though! Not my fault it was a chick flick!). Also, Julie thought Enchanted was quite terrible, but Amy had told me beforehand that it was such, so I went in expecting it to be super cheesy and therefore really enjoyed it. I downloaded a ringtone, lol. It was clever, even if the plot was bad. And now I want to read the Golden Compass books. I'm so curious about what happens.

I can't wait for finals to be over. It will be glorious.

Later gators:-)

1. Have you ever stayed in a hostel? If so, where? Did you like it? If you haven't stayed in a hostel, would you?
yup! dublin, hamburg, krakow, prague, amsterdam, paris, nice, freiburg (black forrest), salzburg, florence, rome. Great experiences, good fun, but definitely mixed qualitites and an adventure. lol. The one in Rome didn't have toilet seats. Very uncomfortable.

2. What is your favo(u)rite airport that you've been to? Why?
umm. I have such bad experiences with airports. I've had at least four flights with five-hour delays, which I think is more than the average person. And airports pretty much always have a bookstore, so then I buy a book and I am pretty patient.

(I will say that Miami wins for WORST airport ever. The lack of correct signs and competent workers had us circling in our car for two and a half hours, causing us to miss being able to board our flight by literally one minute, and the flight we were then put on was delayed five and a half hours. In that time, they had us on an plane with broken air conditioning for an hour, and then had us walk a mile across the airport to a different gate. Hideous.)

3. What is the best museum you have visited on vacation?
ohhh boy. I always say it's a toss up between the National Gallery in London, the Louvre in Paris, and the Uffizi in Italy for favorite art museum, and I guess that's true for museums in general.

4. Have you ever made friends while traveling whom you keep in touch with on a regular basis?
yes, Randal from Britain. The Quad met him in Poland, then he was in Prague at the same time as us, and then we met up and traveled together in Austria and Italy. We still correspond regularly. We are also in touch with a few other people we met abroad, though we talk to them less regularly.

5. Have you ever had a conversation with a seatmate on a plane?
All the time. One turned out to live in La Crescenta and I referred Jill to her for house-sitting.

I am playing there at 4:15 on Sunday. If you haven't heard already- come! It's free.

(Lourdes, I will most likely drop off your tickets tomorrow morning around 10.)


uuuuuum. Other new stuff. Come see Ragtime; it's awesome. But don't come this weekend, because I may or may not be there myself. But after this weekend, it runs for another three. Fri/Sat @8, Sun @2. Yay.

My therapist says she talks more during my sessions than with any of her other patients. I was amused but not surprised. I'm not sure if she meant it as a negative or a neutral thing, though. She mentioned it at the very end so we're talking about it next week.

I've been sick for a few days. It's a poop. I want to run around and play but I'm just so sleepy. meh!

For your amusement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW9ibWViddU