I also went to Perros Gyros

Yesterday, I found out just how boring my life is.

Kylie and I wanted to go somewhere yesterday. We weren't stuck at home for any reason, what with Kylie being able to drive/having a car, so we decided to go out. We sat, at our breakfast bar, her eating cookies and me sipping juice, trying to think of anywhere we could go. Not downtown, it was too expensive and too far. Not in Flossmoor, too expensive and too boring. This continued for at least half an hour. Finally, having exhausted all other options, we decided.

"Lincoln mall?" I asked, mostly to myself as we settled into car on the way out of the garage.
"Where else?" she said, her neck craned behind her so as not to run over the garbage cans she hadn't brought back to the house.
"Well," I said, hand extended under my chin to catch the crumbs from the Milanos I was eating, "At least it's got a bookstore."

After stopping at the bank, and taking the long way 'round, we arrived at the mall. We walked through its barren parking lot into Carson's, one of the few major retailers remaining in this ghost mall.

"Why are we here?" I asked, as we blazed through men's wear.
"No idea." Kylie answered mechanically, swserving suddenly to avoid crashing into a colonge display.

We emerged from the department store into the bustling atrium. All right, so it wasn't bustling, and the atrium is about the most pathetic mall you've ever seen. But still, it was light filled, and had it not been eleven-thirty on a Tuesday mornig, you might have heard excited shouts of children and witnessed frantic shoppers whizzing by....

We walked. Through the southwest wing, and nothing. Through the east wing, and nothing. Through the nothwest wing, and still nothing. It was time to go upstairs.
Finally, after covering the majority of the second level, we saw it.
"Look, Krissy, Bargain Books!"
"Finally!"
Our pace quickened, and soon, we were in the entry of the saddest, emptiest bookstores we had ever been inside. There were no shelves, only long, unorganized tables, labeled with signs that said "SELF-HELP", "HUMOR", "SPIRITUAL" and "NEW ARRIVALS: FICTION". This bookstore sucked. Until, that is, I saw the sign.
"Kylie!" I half-yelled, pointing at a children's easel with a poster propped against it.
"Art, photography, and literature, 50% off!" I read. "Where's the art, photography, and litereature sections?"

After some quick searching, we found it. A whole corner, right behind the stacks of "One Hundred Easy Wiccan Spells" and "The Christian Soldier" (both on the "SPIRITUAL" table), was devoted to art and literature. Some Doestevesky for $1.50, Best American Non-Required Reading for $2.00, and so on. All half off! We spent, easily, twenty or so minutes, thumbing through art books, and sorting through stacks of literature. Finally, hands full, we staggered to the checkout.

So there. Be sides the library booksale, that was my excitement for the week. And so, I have concluded that my life is, indeed, just as we all suspected, boring.

This is what I do before I go to bed every night.

I'm sitting here, listening to lovely Brazillian music, and thinking about what I shall do this week befor leaving for Maryland.

I'm going to make a movie with Aly.
I'm going to listen to lots of music that I got from the library.
I'm going to read at least three of my new old books that I bought today.
I'm going to watch Masterpiece Theatre.
I'm going to finish the scarf I half-knitted over Christmas.
I'm going to stop throwing up so I can eat Mexican/Asian food, which I am totally craving.
I'm going to make a lot of lists.
I'm going to sleep.

"Do you think I could get those spinny rims for the Pacifica, too?"-my mother

This past week I've felt a lot like an Expressionist artist. Stressed, dealing with illness, and er, living with the gruesome images of war frozen in my memory...

Alright, so I'm not feeling that much like an expressionist paper. And yes, for those that are wondering, my AP Euro paper is about post-WWI German art.

This weekend, whilst my mother and Kylie were in Michigan, our 1993 Dodge Minivan broke down. So, naturally, they drove a 2006 Lincoln Navigator home. For those not familiar with that way my family works, I will explain. This week, my grandfather tired of his Lincoln Aviator and pickup truck. He decided to replace them with a Navigator and a Cadillac Escalade Pickup. These are both comepletely ridiculous vehicles for my grandparents, as there are only two of them and they use their vehicles for hauling construction supplies and landscaping materials between their various properties. Now, my grandmother's Cadillac car doesn't fit in their garage, so they've decided to keep it at their lake house (less that five miles from their house) rather than get rid of it. So basically, they bought a bunch of frivolous and inefficient vehicles that they don't really need and don;t suit their purposes very well. But I digress. My mother and Kylie arrived in Michigan, after which our ancient van promptly broke down. This caused our family, who actually has a need for three cars, to run into problems, the most pressing being the means of return to Illinois. Since we would need a new car anyway, and my grandparents didn't really need the Cadillac, my mother suggested we buy it off of them. This greatly upset my grandmother, who couldn't possibly part with her car that she replaces with a newer one every two years anyway. After much consideration, my grandfather decided to have us take the Navigator, because he "needed" his Escalade pickup this week. So now, sitting in our driveway, is a massive, shining, fancy-pants, thing. The worst part of all, though, is that my mother loves it. Ugh. If she buys one to replace the van, I am so running away from home. Like, totally.

So that's my story for today. It's of frivolity and suburbia at its best, is it not?

All things must come to an end...

Well, it's my last day in the school library for gym class. The book fair has moved on, and the silver dome has disappeared just as mysteriously as it came. All that's left is a forgotton poster outside the library doors, advertising "Cool stuff" and "Hot picks". It's almost kind of sad, really. No, not the fact that the book fair is gone or that I never figured out what the dome was for, but the fact that without these ridiculous library-promotions, I have nothing to say. As silly as they were, they gave me an outlet for pent up sarcasm, something to scoff at. I need something to scoff at. I can't handle taking everything seriously and respecting it. I just don't have it in me.


Oh, book fair! For all of the cynicism I hurled in your direction, I really enjoyed the time we had together. You would stand, with your flashy merchandise and cardboard signs, drawing freshman lit. classes in with your promise of all things "cool", and I would sit, at the computer three feet away with legs crossed and eyes rolling, and watch. Book fair, I never really thought that I would miss you. In fact, at first I wished that you had never come. Now, though, that your mobile shelves and carts of useless trinkets have made their way to another south suburban library somewhere, I kind of miss your presence...

I suppose that's it. This marks the end of my library phase. Sure, I'll post again, but it just won't be the same. I will be at home, on my own time, and I won't get to feel like a badass for blogging instead of researching ice skating (as per my gym teacher's instructions). So with regards from the library, That is all.

Theatre kids are such attention whores...

Hmm. I suppose all thespians aren't that bad. I'm actually glad that I did G.I. (Group Interpretation) this year, finally. I was getting really sick of dreading my time spent with theatrical types. I enjoyed rehearsal today, even though we performed for the cast of Contest Play. I dislike performing for people I know. I feel stupid when I do. That being said, the performances for the school later this week should be really fun for me. Oh well, at least G.I. gets me out of class, right?

Ah, well enough theatre-talk. No one wants to hear about it anyway.What do you want to hear about, though? Do you prefer sarcasm-soaked encounters and events, or refelective-thought stuff? What is interesting to you? Should I even be asking that question?

No! No, I shouldn't! This is my blog! I am the author of it, it consists of my thoughts, whatever they may be. I don't have to listen to you, to give you what you want! I can write whatever I want, thanks. You can't influence me, or try to sway me with your comments! Ha! I laugh at comments! I don't need them. I don't need anyone's input or approval for anything! I am independant! Opinionated! I don't need you, you need me!

So, um, comment if want, guys...
...Please?

Really, I mean, you don't have to. As I expressed earlier, I in no way need your input or attention to fell satisfied with myself.

Seriously.

But if you wanted to comment or something, I can't exactly stop you...

Well, I could, but that would, er, be, um, hindering your right
to...er..express...your...individual...ity. Yes. Individuality. Which is totally what I'm all about.

Right, then. Comment if you wish.

Wouldn't it be nice if I were inetresting?

Yet again, I'm coming to you live from HF's school library! Yes, the book fair is still going, and yes, they still (remarkably) have troll pens left for purchase. I suggest,though, that you seize this opportunity while it lasts, because there's another class coming in right now, and I'm getting the feeling that trool pens are going to be a pretty hot commodity. All sarcasm aside, people really do like the troll pens. Seriously. I mean, at first I thought the idea of people wanting one was just funny, but appartantly Schoolastic knows what they're doing. Just yesterday in my AP Euro class, I overheard a girl saying "Hey you know that book fair, they've got those troll pens... I totally want one. Will you lend me money so I can get one?...Pleeeease, they're so cool!" So yeah. People actually want this stuff.

In other library news, there is a large, inflated dome behind the reference section. The dome is maybe fifteen feet across and ten feet high. It is silvery-gray, and does not seem to be serving any purpose. There is no indication nearby of what the dome may be there for, and no students or staff members have approached it since I've been here. Perhaps it is a side attraction of the bookfair, or possibly a new, advanced, referance media that allows the student to step insidew the inflatable dome, and experiance a 360-degree holographic projection featuring up-to-the-minute information from credible researchers worldwide, as well and audio and video clips that would greatly enhance a student's research. Probably not, though. But really, I've no idea what the "dome" is.

We'll be here 'til Thursday

So right now I am sitting in HF high school's library. It is not very big, but not very small, not very useful, and not very exciting. It is pretty much a normal place. THere are (obviously) books, internet, and tables with wooden chairs. It is a fairly pleasant place to spend one's gym period when out on "medical" leave. However, today is not just a usual* day in HF's library. Today, there is a book fair! THe book fair, usually featured in elementary schools, holds many exciting and interesting items availiable for purchase. There are books at eigth grade reading levels, erasers shaped like smiley faces, and even a box full of assorted holographic bookmarks! THere are "Hot Picks!" and "Cool Stuff!" as indicated by colorful cardboard signs. All in all, it is quite the fair. I mean, this place is buzzing with action and excitement. THey even have troll pens. Troll pens!! How awesome is that?!? AW man, book fair, you are so cool! (And the best part is, students, my peers, my supposed equals, are buying this crap!) I find all of this rather remarkable.

*"a usual"...is that correct? Because you use "an" before a word that starts with a vowel, but "an usual" does not work. I think, that because of the "y" sound at the beginning of usual, it must be "a usual". If any of you have knowledge on this subject, do share it with me.

Colonial, Ranch, or Split-level?

So...today I'm resesrching houses and schools in MD. Here's some of what I found:



My first thought upon the encounter of this website was "Why, it's just like HF! They, too, have a tradition of excellence!" Upon further examination, I discovered that I could join breakdancing club, latin dancing club, German, Italian, or French club, or, my personal favorite, Jewish awareness club. The club's purpose is "to share Jewish heritage and customs with Jewish and non-Jewish students". Gee, that sounds great.I'll bet they get to learn about the Holocaust, too.



Now here's a school I really like. See, I happen to be a person, so I matter! They sure know how gove the people what they want...

My actual favorite is Howard High, who doesn't have a slogan. Maybe that's why I like it. Or maybe, it's because it's the only high school that I"ve looked at to have an AP program. I think, though, it's because of this:



It's by far the coolest house that exists in Columbia, MD (and the surrounding area). It's in the middle of a woods, on tons of land, although if I really feel like chilling in suburbia, it's right outside the forest.
Plus, it is not an ugly vinyl-siding and brick split-level horror. And...check this out


Purple=black people
Yellow=asians
Teal=Hispanic
Blue=(you guessed it) white people

I know that the whites are still a huge majority, but I mean, there are still other ethnic groups represented, more than the other schools, too.

So I guess that's the best I'm going to get. Disappointing, but okay.

Ugh.

So I can't remember having taken this picture. I kind of like it, though.

I'm sitting in my basement now, kind of cold because I'm only wearing a tee-shirt. My mother is talking to the television, watching American Idol. My dog is chewing on a tennis ball, matting down the lime fuzz with her foul-smelling saliva. It's kind of distgusting, actually. I mean, the fact that my mother is totally entertained by this is really disappointing. Not to mention irritating. I mean, I'm in the same room, I have ears, have some respect, jeez.

Well, I've got a lot to do. I need to finish cleaning my basement and my room, make muffins for breakfast tomorrow, take my dog for a walk, and finish my homework, so I'm going to leave.

Ummm...

Today I think I'll reflect on/ramble about... I don't know. Um, teen angst! Life sucks! I didn't have any intriguing thoughts, no particularly interesting incidents took place today, and no major changes in my life have occured. What else can I blog about? Suburbs sucking? High school sucking? Me sucking? I've got nothing else.

On that note, I'll go finish watching Scrubs and find something else to eat.

Another Something New...

Damn Yankees is over. Thank God.

Actually, the end of this show has given me about the most mixed feelings I've had in a while. Not just the whole "Oh my god, I can't believe it's over. I'm so relieved, but I'll miss it sooo much!" , but mixed feelings in general. About lots of stuff. About friends, and un-friends, and what I like, and who I like, and what I think, and mostly what I want. I don't know shit about what I want. Oh well. Things will return to their usual. Either that, or I'll adjust to a new usual, which will probably be the case. Right now, my usual is sitting in a windowless, fluorescent-lit room with about ten to forty other thespians at any given moment. Right now, usual is feeling overtired, sick, and generally unhappy with myself. I need a new usual really badly. I like change... most of the time. Anyway, um, have a picture. This one is me in the aforementioned green room, only the lighting looks way cooler in this picture (which, by the way, I obviously didn't take).



Now I need to go finish illustrating my comic book of the Brothers Karamazov for English class.

Much love to you all

Greetings from Fabulous Flossmoor!

So...right now I'm watching "La Cage aux Folles" on (you guessed it) PBS. It's pretty much the coolest possible way to spend a Friday night, especially during winter break. But then again, I'm pretty much the coolest possible person...

Oh. I thought of something. (Shocking, no?) I'm getting new glasses. I know, it's a lot to take in all at once. I'm sorry I sprung that on you so suddenly like that. Such earth-shattering news needs to be carefully handled so as to not put my readers into too much of a shock.Please accept my apologies for my insensitive and reckless approach. Anyway, they are slightly cooler (I think) than what I have now, but they are not that interesting. My mother wouldn't let me get dark, or artsy, or fancy hipster-type glasses, which I thought would have been far more amusing, not to mention making my parents uneasy. She also is continuing her crusade for contacts, which I am not all too eager to get. Oh well, I actually don't care too much. Just so long as I can see...

Well, as usual, I've got nothing too interesting to say. Have lovely new years, all.

Michigan

By now you must know that I was in Michigan, with various relatives, for the past week. I was going to tell you all about what happened, etc., but I don't feel like it. Here's the highlight of the week:



In case you were wondering, that was my sister Kylie and me, when we went with Peter (cousin) to have light-saber duels in the street. (that was just a "pblicity-shot" we took in the driveway. The duels are on video.)

Other than that, I don't feel like talking about winter break too much. It hasn't been all that it was promised to be, and I'm kind of upset about that. I'm also kind of upset that I went into Wal-Mart this week. I am very anti-Wal-Mart, but my aunt made me. Peter took an amusing picture though, and I guess the random crap we found there (like fuzzballs with eyes and removable skin) made it somewhat worth it. Still, Je n'aime pas Wal-mart.




Well, I'll post again soon. Right now, though, I've got some catching up to do.

If you aren't Sophie and you're reading this... thanks. Actually, if you are Sophie, thank you as well.

So...I have a blog now. I don't really know what to do with myself. You will note that I have, with the kind aid of my friend's photobucket account, added a profile picture. It is, not surprisingly, of me. It is, surprisingly, not an abosolutely horrible picture. I'm kind of freaked out by the exposed wrist, but since it's a very small picture, I think I can handle it.

I guess I really wasn't paying attention to life today, because I really don't remember a whole lot about today. The only really memorable bit was choir, wherein Sophie, Tori, Rachel, Tori II, and I discussed "The Superb Owl", a replacement, quite a good one, too, for the superbowl. It is a long and wondeful story, one that I do not wish to type out for you, whoever you are, so I apologize for mentioning it and then letting you down like that. I guess I'm a jerk. I will tell you that it involved promoting world peace through Carnivale-like festivities (if that's what you'd call them). Really, if you must know the details, I suggest you take your inquiries to Sophie's blog, for she can probably explain the whole mess with much less effort and clumsiness.

Anyhow, that's really all that I can remember happening. I think I went to some theater-oriented meeting after school, because that's kind of where I always end up going, but to tell the truth, the details are all rather foggy. Like I said, I really wasn't paying attention to today. With that, I shall conclude.

A Frustrating Fourth Attempt...

Ugh. Every time I've checked back to the page after it elling me that it sucessfully published, nothing new was there. Did it or did it not publish? Is it just lying to me? First, it prevents me from typing at all, then it lets me type, but won't publish... why does my computer suck so much?

A Thrid Attempt at Posting

Hmmm...a click to "Edit Html", and it's letting me type. I may be on to something! If this works, screw xanga!

It does! I have a functioning blog! This puts a whole new perspective on things...

I may switch completely to blogger, and abandon my xanga, because (sorry if these are offensive generalizations to anyone) a.)xanga is just one big teenaged angst-fest. and b.)the majority of xanga's users are not particularly proficient writers, or are just flat-out stupid. the only thing is, I'm kind of attactched to my xanga. As much as I sort of hate some of my previous posts, because I sounded like an idiot, or because I really don't want to remember what was going on in my life at that time, I'm still kind of attatched to it. It's like a journal, and I guess I don't want to just throw it away. True, I can always just go back and read it, it's not like I'm deleting it, but I kind of feel like the thing just dies if you don't keep it up. Oh well, I'll worry about this later.

Wow. My first real blogger rant. I feel so smart and witty...

My computer does not allow me to type actual posts, just titles. However, I quite like the idea of not actually having content to my blog...

This blog is all Sophie's fault...