Bollywood

Yes, I pulled a "I knew what it was when I picked it up" moment. While I was browsing around-quickly, mind you-the library, I saw a movie that caught my eye. It was entitled, "Bride & Prejudice, a Bollywood Musical." Unfortunately, I didn't scoff and walk away. I picked it up! And I didn't only pick it up, I actually checked it out!!
It gets worse. I actually watched it.
The first time through, it was confusing and strange.
Here's the bad part: I watched it again, and found that I actually like it...in a way, anyway. I wouldn't buy it or anything... Let's just say I'm facinated with other cultures...(it's based in India.)
I suppose I had such low expectations of it that it actually was better than I thought it'd be...
Maybe I should prepare to watch movies like that all the time...have such below-dirt expectations, that every corny movie will seem good.
Then again, that approach probably won't work with books that I adored. I hate how Hollywood messes 'em all up.
I'm not saying I didn't adore P&P...Let's just say...this movie was so off-course of the storyline, it doesn't seem to do much with P&P, except for the fact that Darcy is really named Darcy...

Have any of you ever done that? Checked out a movie, expecting it to be deemed unwatchable after the first ten minutes, but realized you could keep watching if you wanted to?

Irony

Today had a loverly strong savor of irony.
I was a good girl and went to my seminary council meeting during lunch. Our meeting ran a little late, and I had to hurry and get my English folder. I literally ran to my class, only to fail three feet away. I was stopped by one of the assistant principals, and was swept into a room filled to the brim of students. Despite my explanation, they wouldn't let me pass. When the patrols succeeded getting us all quiet, the sophomore principal's first words were: "It's like being pregnant. Either you're late, or you're not. You guys are LATE."
We had to get in line to receive our two dollar tardy ticket. I talked to people around me. One kid was getting into his car to go to an off-campus class, but still was dragged to get a ticket. Another kid didn't even have a class to go to, he was going home. The worst story? One girl was diabetic, and was feeling like she was going to pass out, so she went outside to check her sugar levels...dragged to get a tardy ticket with the gruff reply, "No excuses."
Sure, this system sounds great to catch all the tardy students BUT...no system is perfect. No. This stupid tardy sweep made me fifteen minutes late to my favorite class. Two or three more students came in. Without a tardy ticket.
Unfortunately, the one day I'm running late, the school pulls all of their enforcers together to grab the people who are one minute late...letting the people who are five minutes late go free. Bleah. I dislike these kinds of things.
They savor of irony and it doesn't taste very good.

Spinsters hear strange things

I was (am) sick yesterday, and I found I felt best if I was up and moving around. But nothing too physically exhausting.
So I drove in the warm car to Joann's, and bought some material, thread, a zipper, and a pattern.
And I cut.
And I sewed.
And I sewed.
Yollered to mom for help.
Sewed.
Sewed some more, with the help from my mom.
And by ten-thirty of last night, I was finished with a blue dress. To wear today. But this post isn't about sewing. It's about the conversations I overheard.

For example:
(Oscar is in green, Mom [aka "Grandma"] in italics. Emily? is in blue)
They were talking about marriage for some reason.
"I'll marry you, grandma"
"You don't have to marry me, you'll meet some girl and marry her."
"Who's Grandma married to?"
"Grandpa!"
(Dad in the background in a gruff voice, "That's RIGHT!")
"Who's momma married to?"
"My dad!"
"Who's Emily married to?"
"I don't know...uh...oh! Carvel!"
"Who's Lindsey married to?"
"Bryan!"
"Who's Megan married to?"
(He gives a blank. I shout out from the other room, "Donkey-face!")
"Oh! Reed!"
"Who's Natalie married to?"
"Grandma."
"No, she's not married yet..."

Later....
Oscar comes running up to me asking "this" was. I turn from my spinster sewing, and look down. I have no idea what it's called. Often he just want to know the name for things and he's fine. But I don't even know the name! I just told him it was a rock used to scrub off callouses.
He needed a better explanation, so I told him that Grandma (mom) gets huge yellow pieces of dead skin on her feet from her work in the garden. That skin hurts, so she uses scissors and that rough rock to grate it off. He looked at me blankly, and ran to Grandma for a better explanation.

Earlier in the day...
I was listening in on a conversation, and this is what I heard...
"So, I come in the car carrying a coke. And Oscar says, 'Daddy, you don't like coke because it has chemicals in it that keeps you awake. But it's okay to drink coke when you're driving...'"
Not bad for a little four-year-old, eh?

Sick.

Woo hoo. I love being sick!
I love not being able to pronounce any words correctly (not that I ever did...).
I love having itchy, sore eyes.
I love having a pounding headache.
I love waking up in the middle of the night to find snot running down my chin.
I love being too hot. Then too cold. Then too hot. Then too cold.
I love the fact that I chose to get sick the week after state.
I love it when the misery is finally over, and you're grateful for being able to breathe through your nostrils.

State: The result.

Well, my last state is done and over with. (YAY!)
I did pretty well. I didn't get a best time in the 50 free...(all well.)
But I did great in the 100 free. After two long years, I finally got a personal best time! Woo hoo!

I have worn shorts the last four days, because I now have legs that are okay to look at.

Unfortunately for my tired side, I'm going to be dead-tired for a month longer. Yes, I'm getting up early to work out my swimming skills before water polo practice because I need to train for another meet in Seattle.

Other than that? Not much. State's over. I feel like I can fly.

State: Day one.

I'm pumped and ready to go. I need to focus.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
The whistle blows. I step up onto my block.
"Take your mark"...BEEP!
I lunge forward and dive into the water. Come on! Get going! Faster! Come on arms! Faster! Uh oh...here's the wall. Well...that flip turn wasn't my best...but coming back, I finally find my stride. Unfortunately, the race is over. Look up. 23.65. Dang. Not even...not even a best time! Gaaah!
I cool down in the warm pool. I'm frustrated and disappointed.
But all everyone cares about is what place I got. "Who cares if you didn't get a best time? You're a state champ!"
I care. I wanted a best time!
Everyone congratulating me and hugging me made me annoyed.
Maybe I shouldn't have been annoyed. Maybe I should just enjoy being a state champ...again.
But it's my senior year! I want a best time!

They announce my name. "...and the state champion with a 23.65 (dratted time!)...from Some High School in the Vicinity, Abby Norman!"
I stand on the podium for all the people to peer at me.
Because I'm a state champ, I'm required to smile. But I just can't.
So I do the second best thing I can do.

Grimace.

Melissamerica's Fabulous Survey

"Lately, I've been getting a new round of those email "get to know you" surveys. It seems like the same ones tend to circulate every so often, and--frankly--I think some of those questions leave something to be desired. Bacon or Croutons? Ahem, case closed. So, I've created my own survey full of questions that I wanted to answer. Feel free to join me by answering some of these questions or by supplying interesting questions of your own. Cheers." -Melissamerica

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Squid Jerky

What’s something you do that you wish you didn’t do?
Talk to myself-regardless if people are around or not...

What was the last song you sang when no one else was around?
"Here Comes the Sun" -Beatles

In the movie about your life, which actor would you choose to play you?
Hmmm...that's a good question...

Where’s the last place you went on vacation?
Pullman, Washington.

If you were arrested, who would be your “one phone call?”
My parents.

What book are you currently reading?
Heart of Darkness

What historical event would you like to have been present for?
The invention of the french fry. I'd attempt to stop them!

What historical figure would you like to have met?
Albert Einstein

Name something you can’t do very well.
Sing

What's the worst injury you've suffered?
Broken collar bone from trying to be borned.

Name one thing that makes you a “freak of nature.”
I have a wonderful sense of smell.

What’s one thing you would do as President of the United States?
Pick my nose in front of the media.

What day in your life would you like to go back and watch as a spectator?
The day I was carrying someone on my back, tripped, and smashed my face into the concrete...in slow motion.

What song currently tops your “most played” list in iTunes?
Uh..."Where my heart will take me" (I don't know who it's by...)

Name something you intend to do but haven’t done yet.
Get state done and over with.

If you could do anything you wanted today, then rewind the day and start over fresh—no consequences—what would you do?
Go skydiving without a parachute.

What’s your favorite city you’ve ever visited?
Pullman.

If you could be transported for just one day anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Tasmania.

What was your most recent purchase?
Shaving creme...

Name one thing you’re looking forward to doing this week.
Getting state over with.

Sweethearts

It seems like every school I know of is having some sort of dance this Saturday. Including mine. I suppose it's this specific weekend because Valentine's Day is next Wednesday. Oh, joy.

You know me to be a very random and whimsical person. I lived up to that title today.

I walked into the Main Hall around lunch time and saw the little meager table selling tickets to Sweethearts. Only $15 a couple. Not bad. So, I think in my head..."Well, I'm going to state this weekend, so there's no hope for a day activity, and probably no dinner...Why don't I buy a ticket, save it, and on the bus ride home from state on Saturday evening, ask one of the swimmer boys if they want to have some fun at the dance, and we'll just go. If not, then I just gave fifteen bucks to support the school. It's a win-win."

I walk up there, and buy a ticket. Megan, a friend and co-swimmer of mine, looked at me wide-eyed and asked me if I was "actually going, and if it was just stagging." I told her my plan, and she said that I should ask a certain young man who isn't a swimmer, but he's going to be attending the meet because he didn't get asked, and didn't have anything better to do...

So. I walked up to this boy I hardly know. He was/is in a couple of my classes, seminary and Language, but we never really talked. It puzzled me that he wasn't asked...he's the Senior Class President, and a Madrigal. Why wouldn't someone ask???

Anyhow, I walked toward him, chickened out, and kept on walking to the restroom. I went back to my lunch, and wrote a little stupid story about a girl in distress because she's a master procrastinator, and she has no date...blah blah blah.

And it asked him. And he said yes.

All of this happened in a course of about 20 minutes...

Yes, you could say I'm a spontaneous random person...

S-T-A-T-E.

For the first time in 4 months, I will have shiny hairless legs next Sunday.
Yes. State is coming up rather quickly.
Yes, I am finally ready.

Enough about state.

More about the comforts that come after state:

1. No more itchy hairy legs
2. Drink soda without guilt.
3. Eat candy without guilt.
4. Sleep in for the first time since after last year's state...(actually I won't get to enjoy this one because I'll be training for another meet in March...)
4. (Scratch the last number four) No more interviews!!! 'Nough said.
5. No more speculating on how I'll do. It'll be done and done.
6. No more rapid heart beating attacks when you mention that one-syllable word. "State" (da-DUMP! da-DUMP! da-DUMP!...actually, that sounds more like the Jaws theme song...)
7. No more being cautious about every action I make, worrying it'll strain or pull a muscle! YAY! Cartwheels galore!
8. Like #2 and #3...gorging...though it's probably not good for me...

etc.
etc.
etc.

I both want state to come, but then I don't want it to come.
Mixed emotions galore.