On a More Positive Note...

Here's a handful of things that I'm lovin' at the moment:

Crude, sure...but the show really does have a heart of gold at its core. The songs are so catchy! I can't pick just one favorite.

Strawberry lemonade-flavored treats! They're the perfect combo of sweet and sour.

Frozen yogurt! I got a coupon in the mail for a complimentary treat at a local fro-yo shop that's celebrating it's two-year anniversary...I know what I'm getting today!

Notebooks with fun, lovely patterns! I went to Target recently and bought several. I'm going to bring them with me take notes in at my pre-college program.

My Fossil elephant key fob. I'm going to be getting a key for my dorm in the city, and I'll put it on this!

A Little Bout of Boredom

Lately, I've been feeling a bit lonely. I mean, I have a few close friends and others who I could chat with. However, nobody's schedules seem to align anymore. And thus, I find myself seated up in my bedroom, with only my laptop for company. I've attempted to make plans, but it's hard when friends go to schools that end on different days, others don't know when they'll be free because of their job hours, you get the gist. I really don't have grounds to be complaining, considering I am departing for one of the greatest cities in the world in A WEEK AND A HALF, and opportunities for social interactions with like-minded artsy/nerdy/totally awesome individuals my own age will be quite abundant.

Also, I suppose it honestly doesn't matter how often I see my friends as long as I am happy. The internet is a veritable compendium of knowledge, and I use it to feed the impulses of my inner journalist. (Seriously, I consider looking up facts and information a little hobby of mine.) My mom says I shouldn't be sitting on my butt all day and getting lost in cyberspace and day dreams. Her suggestions were to take the initiative to clean the house (productive, yes, fun...that's iffy), get in the habit of cooking regularly, and be more creative. Funny enough, I thought to do these things before I discussed my bout of boredom with her. I never take my own advice often enough.

To quote a nifty t-shirt I once spotted, "Stop b*tchin', start a revolution." Albeit, a personal revolution. I am a creature of creative habit, and if I feel the need to express my creativity, I should not repress it. A few days ago, I was still stressing over my last final exam. Now, I can breathe. Sometimes it's the hardest to get through those in-between times. School's out, yet I'm stuck home for 10 days. I might as well make the best of it, and really take my own advice into consideration.

Words to live by, really.

"If you're doing your best, you won't have any time to worry about failure."

- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

This year, I wasted many precious minutes...worrying about failure. When you take AP classes, I suppose it comes with the territory. The people in my grade, at the top of our class at least, are so incredibly competitive. It's not like I don't try my best, but with the way the classes are designed, sometimes I feel that I'm just missing something. For example, in my history class, there are so many questions on tests that people got wrong that we never even went over. Considering these tests are designed to make you internally cringe in agony over whether the answer is A or C, I suppose this isn't the best example. The thing is, I don't enjoy getting Bs at all (albeit mid-high Bs, but that is not the point). However, if that was the grade I earned in a particular class by doing my best, I really shouldn't be complaining. When I took karate classes when I was younger, my instructors told the class to give "110 percent" effort. It's just when you're working that hard, you want some kind of reward, some sign that you are not, indeed, a failure. At this point, I think of the people who don't even challenge themselves with these classes. I don't take college-level courses for bragging rights, because my parents force me, etc. I take them for the challenge, and for an environment in which a higher-level thought process can be fostered. I enjoy the discussions. I enjoy being with classmates who care about learning just as much as I do. Well, I suppose this is where the reward lies. It's like getting a job (though I have yet to have that experience). You like your co-workers, but you don't always like the way your boss handles the business. If everyone could learn this lesson about doing your best, if nothing else, the world would be a happier, less-stressed out place. And learn it when you're young.

As junior year comes to a close...

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Boy, is high school speeding by! I can't believe I'll be a senior in a week and a half. It's unreal, how fast these three years have flown by. Of course there were ups and there were downs, but I've had some pretty great experiences in high school in between the piles of schoolwork. And even if there is something I dislike about a situation, it is in my nature to pick out something positive from the experience. I may not enjoy all of the work, for example, but in the long run, I can look back and observe just how much I've learned. And while I may not have made a million best friends, I've become closer with some people I already knew. One more year left, huh? As Thoreau says, you must live in the present, which is difficult with college and a whole new level of freedom and responsibility looming around the corner. 

Living in the moment should be a mantra for just about everyone. Whether young or old, whether fighting a disease or celebrating something positive, it is truly necessary to find your own eternity in each moment of your life. The days themselves may feel like eternity, but the years fly by.

Summer cleaning? Better late than never.

I know this is going to sound incredibly cliché, but to de-clutter your life, you first need to de-clutter your living space. I did not just quote Oprah or something, I swear. If I quoted anyone, it was purely on a coincidental level. I digress. Anyway, my house can never remain clean and clutter-free for more than a few days at a time. Papers pile up. We go shopping. We move existing piles that somehow remained inconspicuous in their original location, but are very noticeable now.

As I'm thinking about my impending summer plans, I'm going to add "summer cleaning" to the roster. Sure, everyone does spring cleaning, but the clutter is really getting to me, and, as the old adage goes, it's better late than never. By no means am I a neat freak. My room is quite frequently in a state of disarray, for several reasons. It's not that big a living space, so there isn't that much room to begin with. Now, add piles of books, magazines, school papers, new summer clothes...and you get a mess.

So, before I go away for a month, I'm going to make a genuine effort to clean up my room. I don't even look at half the papers on the floor! However, the external mess is not the only issue at hand. I own several clothing items that I no longer wear (since they are old or "mistake" purchases). I need to be somewhat brutal if I'm going to be successful in attacking the piles of papers and cleaning out my drawers of what is no longer essential.

As I mentioned in my last post, summer is a time of possibility. And for me, this includes the possibility of really getting my room (and my house) clean once and for all. Or for the summer, at least.

(Dog) Days of Summer

School's almost over (3 days, people, 3 days), which means it is nearly impossible to remain free of summer plan preoccupation. Aside from the "backbone" of my summer- the camp or program I attend - I always set goals for myself in my mind. No, not shallow goals, like "I wanna get an awesome tan." Goals more along the line of trying to read as many classic novels and books in general as possible. It's like the whole New Year's Resolution thing all over again. Summer is bursting with possibility. Think of all the days where you don't have to sit couped up in a classroom (well, I will be in a classroom...but in NYC, so it beats normal school by a long shot)! Think of all of the time to swim, laugh, read, and just have fun. Every year I tell myself that I will make the most out of my summer, and this summer is no different. I will not let summer slip away from me, and you shouldn't let it slip away either. So, here are several summer goals I've set for myself:

• Make lot of new friends at pre-college program. And actually stay in touch.
• Read as much as possible, and take the time to actually finish Les Mis.
• Write more.
• Be more creative - take more photos, make scrapbooks, be crafty!
• Get a head start on that college essay.
• Exercise. Or get in the habit of exercising at least.
• Be more proactive...instead of just talking about doing something, like baking, actually do it.

Whatever goals you have, do your best to meet them. Have an awesome summer!

Back from Hollisterland

...AKA California. I traveled to the west coast with my parents for my cousin's wedding. And did some sightseeing too, of course! What I found initially odd was how I was familiar with the names of the local beaches thanks to that Cali chic, dark-lit, heavily perfume-scented store...Hollister. Even if you haven't ventured into this popular shopping locale, I'm sure you've spotted a friend (or even a stranger) wearing a fitted t-shirt or sweatshirt depicting the phrases "NEWPORT BEACH," "LAGUNA BEACH," "HOLLISTER SURF," etc. These phrases become more than just meaningless letters once you've been Pacific Ocean-side. Trust me. Beaches are innately beautiful, from the gleam of the seemingly endless turquoise water, to the sand being playfully licked by languid waves, and the plethora of swaying palm trees. During my (somewhat brief) stay in California, I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of visiting Newport Beach (though due to our GPS, we missed the major attractions the area had to offer), Laguna Beach...and I even went to the iconic Santa Monica pier. I may not have swam in the water, but I did tread upon the sand and snap a multitude of pictures of the aforementioned beauty of the beaches.

Another highlight of the trip included taking the TMZ Hollywood Bus Tour, a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills affiliated with the entertainment show/website. To begin with, the bus itself was something to rave about. The vehicle was windowless (meaning it was open on the sides) and was equipped with two TV monitors so that footage from the TMZ show could be shown during the tour. Additionally, this bus had a high-tech sound system. On the back of each seat was a speaker that was connected to the monitors. Aside from the technological advancement of the vehicle, our tour guide was funny, charismatic, and energetic. The tour was interactive, meaning that tour-goers were asked to be on the look-out for celebrities going about their day-to-day lives. The closest we got to seeing a celeb was when one woman spotted Reese Witherspoon's ex-husband working out at a gym we passed. Our tour guide hopped off the bus and ran to the gym, camera interface in hand, but the man ended up declining an interview. I suppose the rich and famous are like us in that respect - they don't like getting press when they're a hot and sweaty mess. Despite never getting a celebrity to agree to an interview, the tour was still enjoyable, being a relatively speedy romp through some of the most famous neighborhoods and streets of southern California. Yes, we went down Rodeo Drive, as well.

 We also visited with my mom's friend from college, Gary, who is a playwright/screenwriter (for Hallmark, etc). He lives in a lovely house up in the Hollywood Hills. Did I say hills? They're more like mountains! Anyway, from his backyard, you can just make out the classic Hollywood sign. It's an incredible view! Gary chatted with us about the movie business, on every manner of topics imaginable, from what it means to be responsible for "re-writing" a screenplay to the complicated legalities that pertain to the business. As someone who one day aspires to be involved with similar work, the conversation definitely piqued my interest.

As for the wedding itself, the ceremony was beautiful, albeit unorthodox. The bride opted for a hand-fasting ritual, in which bride and groom are symbolically united with the aid of ribbons and other objects. There was also Pagan influence, as the ceremony focused greatly on nature. It's not creepy at all - it invokes beliefs similar to those held by the Native Americans. Not only was the exchange of words beautiful - the weather was, too! It was an idyllic California day: bright blue sky and warm sunshine without the humidity you'd experience in states like Florida. You get the picture. It was nice to visit with my cousin's relatives (his mother is Israeli, so there were many Israelis present...who coincidentally live in California!). What was sad, though, was that his father, my uncle, passed away last summer from a heart attack, so his presence was greatly missed. My aunt made sure to mention him during a speech she gave.

Overall, the trip was wonderful. It's not every day I get to fly from the east coast to the west! In fact, this was my first time in the state. Sure, the stores may be the same as on the east coast and beaches are inherently similar wherever you go, but seeing family and friends made the trip unique and memorable. I know I am very fortunate to be able to travel across the country, and by no means do I take my privileges for granted. As my mom pointed out while we were on the plane, as we flew over the California desert, "Many people never even get to see the country from the air." Even I have friends who haven't flown before. Traveling can be - and this isn't a stretch - an almost sacred sort of experience. You never leave someplace the same as when you got there. I guess this applies to daily life, as well. Everything we see, every event, seemingly big or little, shapes who we are as people. And we often tend to be shaped the most when  we're out of our element, out of the realm of the familiar, and in some strange, new place.