BEDD 12: not the time

Today's blog comes in many parts.

PART 1

The lack of blogging the past week has been due to the fact that my mom, dad and I all ended up getting really ill with the flu. It was so bad. I can't even begin to tell you, in fact, I'm not ever going there because I want to spare you from the horribleness.  I can't remember the last time I was this ill where I couldn't do much of anything just because my entire body just ached.

PART 2

And of course, I had to fall really ill at the middle of a semi-important week that lead up to the ACT on Saturday, of which I did not attend because I knew I wouldn't be able to focus or not get sick for four.  Also, thought I was in the clear to go back to school today because I was feeling a lot better yesterday afternoon, GUESS NOT. And that's all we'll say on that matter.

PART 3

I'll still complete BEDD, but not with the structure I've outlined myself, because this month I actually have a lot on my mind that I want to blog about specifically.  I will however keep Wednesdays and Sundays the same, I kind of like those days.

PART 4

Also, this is irrelevant to everything else that I've mentioned, but for my (really lousy) goal that I set for myself this year on GoodReads, I'm two books away.  I finished the book I had been reading today, because of the whole still being ill and not ready to go back to school thing.  I was holding off on re-reading the Harry Potter series until the New Year, but I decided I'd go ahead and read the first two to finish off my goal, plus things have been rough lately (not just being ill) and I've always reverted back to reading the Harry Potter books when I get in a major funk, they always seem to help.

PART 5

Also irrelevant, I still haven't even started Christmas shopping yet.

Link of the day: Christmas Doodles just made me smile quite a lot and just uplifted my day. Plus it got me back into the holiday spirit.

days until winter break: 9

days until I become an adult: 26

days until graduation: 158

10DYC: four books

This one was a lot harder to do, just for the fact that I read often but there aren't many books that truly stick out to me.

1. Looking for Alaska

by John Green

I read this over the summer, and though I thought it was a decent book I haven't really thought much about it recently.  It did however give me a lot of food for thought that I thought about a lot over the summer.  One of my favorite quotes actually comes from this book that helped me sort my thoughts out about a situation with a friend of mine that had happened a few years ago.

"Because memories fall apart, too. And

then you're left with nothing, left not even

with a ghost but with it's shadow."

2. The Dictionary

I know: I'm such a nerd.  But seriously, I love the dictionary.  I have a college Merriam Webster dictionary, hard back that my mom bought me last year when school started.  I used it primarily for debate, so there's a ton of sticky notes in it, and I've highlighted important words, that usually pertain to the government in some sort of way.  My English teacher a few weeks ago assigned us this vocabulary list and asked us how we were going to complete it. Someone said to look the words up in the dictionary, and she said that took too long, and that no one wanted to lug around a dictionary. Unknown to most, I keep my dictionary in my car. And I even named it Lucy.

3. Kansas Curiosities

by Pam Grout

I prefer to read things with historical references in them, or history books in general.  Once again, I know I'ma nerd.  While I was living in the library this past summer, I found this book called Kansas Curiosities in the new section.  Considering I love my state a lot and the cover looked interesting I checked it out.  I seriously learned a lot about my home state that I didn't even begin to know.  I read most of the book outloud to my mom, and she didn't know of half the things.  The book basically gives you interesting places to go visit throughout Kansas and a description of the history pertaining to that place.  I've been to about a third of the places in the book (which is the second edition, I have yet to read the first edition).  This book inspired me so much as to put the entire book on my bucket list; I want to check every single one of those places off before I die. And there's a lot of them.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

by J. K. Rowling

I've basically grown up with the Harry Potter series, and I have to thank, again, J. K. for such a brilliant series. In general, the Harry Potter series has helped me through a lot of hard times but if I really had to chose a favorite of them all, I'd chose Deathly Hallows.  Deathly Hallows just seems to be the beginning of everything to me.  Yeah it's the ending to the series, but the fact that it still leaves room for imaging what happens afterwards is nice.  I can't even fully explain why I love Deathly Hallows as much as I do.

Today is awesome because: I'm giving blood for the first time at the American Red Cross who come to our school once a year. Bit nervous, but I"ll be fine.

days until ACT: 30
days until the fall musical: 54
days until I become an adult: 108
days until graduation: 239

10DYC: nine loves

Preface: these are in no specific order.

1. family: I have absolutely no idea what I would do without my family, and by family I mean my parents, brother, and all extended family including the uncountable cousins and aunts and uncles.

2. fishing: my biggest stress reliever and an activity/hobby that I really enjoy.

3. books: they offer so much but yet so many people don't give books and reading enough credit.

4. writing: I've never really been into keeping a steady writing project going, with the exception of BEDA which surprised me, but there's something about writing in general that makes me calm.

5. nature: If I hadn't gotten so adjusted to living with so much technology I would love to live in a basic house structure out in the country and just take in everything that nature has to offer.  It's so beautiful but yet it gets such harsh treatment.

6. traveling: I haven't been to too many places, but then when I stop and think about the opportunities I've had and really consider myself lucky.  I've been all over my home state of Kansas (which I love so dearly) and several of the states in the mid-west, plus several parts of California.  There's something about traveling and seeing new places that really makes life interesting and fun.

7. Harry Potter: as nerdy as this is, it is indeed on my list.  Having grown up with the Harry Potter series for the majority of my life, the series has helped me through so many things.

8.  Theatre: there's something about being apart of a show that I really enjoy. I love seeing everyone's hard work be put together and show cased on show nights. Some of my most memorable experiences are from my work in theatre.

9. YouTube: there's just so much to YouTube that makes it awesome, and so lovable.  I specifically love how different everyone is and how much inspiration is spread around.

Today was awesome because: my dad took Marcella and I fishing.

days until the fall musical: 42

days until I become an adult: 124

days until graduation: 257

10DYC: ten secrets

Side note: I've really missed blogging the last few days. It feels weird not to be blogging every day.  Also, I'm doing the 10 Day You Challenge after seeing the beautiful Kathy do begin it on her blog.

1. As much as I love history and the thought of being a history major and eventually being a history teacher, part of me wants to go into business school and work with small businesses.

2. I still get extremely emotional when I think about my hip replacement, so much to that sometimes I start crying when I'm by myself.

3.  I want to live in small town, Plains, Kansas. Just because I love how far away it is from everything.

4.  I have a small collection of porcelain dolls. And after last night's episode of Doctor Who, I'm basically terrified of them.

5. It's no doubt that I love Harry Potter and everything that pertains to it. But I'm really not at all excited for Pottermore.  Come time that they open it to everyone, I'll give it it's chance and see what it's about. But I'm not too enthused by the idea of it.

6. Sometimes I feel like my brother and I aren't even siblings.  I thought for a while when I was a kid that I was an only child because at the time my brother was in Japan in the Marine Corps.  Now, I hardly talk to him, and I haven't seen him for over a year, I kind of forget about him at times. And that makes me really upset.

7.  I had a friend, we'll just call her K, who really changed my life.  It's hard to explain, but K changed it in a big way, she's part of the reason why I don't open up to people as easily as I used to and I become wary of anyone who tries to get close to me for fear that they'll hurt me emotionally.

8.  I'm scared to death to lose my mom or my dad. (no pun intended...)

9. I love my dog Missy, but I miss my dog Dusty, who died a couple of years ago.  He was the best dog I've ever had, he knew when I was sick and would lay beside my bed all day and night.  When I came home from St. Louis after that summer I was in a brace, and he'd lay beside me every night and when I needed to get up, he'd follow me around. He was THE best dog. And I feel guilty for comparing Missy to him.

10.  I've been told that I'm a good public speaker, and I know I am for the mere fact that I've done theatre, debated and done public speaking through forensics. Even though I've been doing this for over four years now, I still get so incredibly scared before hand that I feel like I'm going to get sick.

Today is awesome because: I talked my mom into rearranging the living room, and we're working on rearranging my room now. I like change like this every once in a while.

days until the fall musical: 43
days until I become an adult: 125
days until graduation: 258

the story of my nerdiness

Hello internet! Long time no blog, eh? Sorry 'bout that. I've been in one of those funks again, or maybe it's just the fact that it's summer now and I can do whatever I want...regardless, I feel guilty for not blogging as often as I know I should be.  But today we're going to be discussing the history of my nerdiness, this mostly pertains to the Harry Potter series. You have been warned.

I have always loved reading, I just always have.  I remember when I really started reading though, more than just the occasional book outside of class.  It was fifth grade when I really got into the Harry Potter series.  I kept a stack of books on the corner of my desk in home room.  The stack always had a Harry Potter book in it some where, I remember it took me a long time to read them, but I loved them regardless; and then there would be three or four other books stacked as well.  I remember I got a Star Student certificate for being, and I quote, "A lean mean reading machine."

Out of all my friends, I would venture to say that I am probably the nerdiest out of all of them.  Don't get me wrong, I think EVERYONE is nerdy about something or another, but I'm really the only one that doesn't care if my nerdiness shows.

In middle school, I went through a hard core Harry Potter craze, it got to the point where my best friend just nodded her head and listened to me talk and talk for hours. There were several occasions when in English we'd have to write certain things, and nearly all of them can be traced back to my Harry Potter crazed stage.  Even now, as a senior in high school, I still have a very deep love for Harry Potter.

I've had a rough child hood, and I could always remember having the Harry Potter books to read and to help me escape whatever it was that was going on.  I felt like I was in a new place and I could be anyone who I wanted to be.  It was a nice feeling to just to let go and let my imagination roam.  I think, had I not discovered the Harry Potter series, that I wouldn't be the person I am today; I'm a friendly and open minded person.  There aren't enough words to express how much J.K. Rowling's writing means to me, she developed something so magnificent that I think even the fans don't even know how much it really affects us all.

On to other nerdy stuff, I absolutely love to write, although writing is one of my weaker points when it comes to keeping up with it.  I tend to start a project and get side tracked, never end up coming back to it.

I have however, have become obsessed with Doctor Who over the last couple of months, and though I just recently started Season 3, I freaking love it.  My goal is to get caught up with the series by the time school starts.  And since I'm talking television shows, I've also become addicted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I plan that I'll have Buffy finished by school starts as well.

What's your nerd history?

remember when

 

circa December-ish 2007 (8th grade)

concessions at a basketball game 

This was me four years ago, and I've come a long way.  Straight teeth, somewhat controlled hair that isn't always shoved up into a ponytail, an outspoken personality.  I can remember when this photo was taken, it's one of the few occasions from middle school that I actually remember, or at least I haven't blocked from my memory.  I remember when I found my love for Harry Potter two years previous this photo, and eventually became obsessed in 8th grade.  I was actually good at math, or at least I passed with a B or higher.  I remember this was around the time I got into theatre.  This was also the time I decided I wanted to be in the film industry.

 circa April 2011 (11th grade)

Kenzie on the right, myself on the left after our club sponsored Mr. Wildcat Pageant.

Fast forward four years to the present. I would have never thought, four years ago that I'd have changed my mind several times about what I wanted to be when I "grow up" and eventually land on wanting to be a history teacher.  Never would have thought that I'd still be obsessed with Harry Potter, though I do admit, I have kind of backed off a little in the last couple years...or that I, who absolutely loves acting, gave up a chance to be in one of the most classic musicals we've done at Mulvane High school to be behind the scenes.

It just goes to show that nothing is for certain, I might change my major in college, though I find it difficult to believe I would because I'm so happy with the decisions regarding college that I've been making recently...but I could.  And though I find it hard to believe that, I wouldn't mind it.  If it's what my heart and gut are telling to do, and it'll make me happy I'll end up doing it.  I wouldn't be where I'm at personally if I didn't follow my heart and gut.

I had a moment during sophomore year where I just wanted to quite theatre.  That it wasn't going to help me later in life and that it was taking up too much time from other stuff, and I wasn't quite concentrating that well on school.  But I eventually rolled around into my senses when I unofficially joined the costuming/makeup department of our theatre department during our spring play production of Fools by Neil Simon when a senior trusted me and only me to help with his quick change.  And that then lead to me cleaning out and organizing the costumes and makeup cabintes and closests later that spring.

 

circa November 2010 (11th grade)

Curtain call for Fiddler on the Roof

I took over as head of costumes and makeup junior year, and put together a new system and trained new crew members while I figured out what the hell I was doing.  Honestly, I don't know what the hell I was thinking that spring, and that summer, and then that fall when I went up to our drama teacher after class and said that if he would let me I'd take over.  Let me give you a little background, previous to Fiddler on the Roof.  I couldn't braid hair, I couldn't curl anyone's hair if my life depended on it.  The only makeup I could do, was stage makeup, on my own face.  I had never used special affects, including spirit gum and the similar likes.  I had never in my life been in charge of clothing 30+ people.  And then on top of this, I was in charge of my crew, who was basically as new as I was to the costuming and makeup side of theatre.

Junior year of high school has been my worse, and my best year of high school thus far.  Fiddler on the Roof is a good example of this.  Late October, early November was when I really began having bad hip issues.  And if you want a detailed summary of these issues, go back to my other blog posts in the beginning...I somehow managed to continue everything that I was doing through this horrific pain I was experiencing when half the time I could barely get out of bed.  I ran my ass off during that show, literally being every where at once, and it seemed like I never let myself breathe.  The last week and a half of the show, I worked in my wheelchair.  I couldn't walk much.  But it was me pushing myself to not let down anyone, and make everyone shine that helped me.  This show, as much stress as it gave me, it payed off.  I really found a part of who I am in the process.  Even the things we thought we could never do, that could never work, could work.

The unexpected can be a great thing, we just have to give it's chance.

And to think, it's killing me sitting here, having absolutely NOTHING to do with our current spring show that I can't work on because I'm currently home schooled due to having my hip replaced.  I mean, Night of the Living Dead.  Black and white version, I've freaking freaked out over this several times, that I'm missing this awesome costuming and makeup chance to shine...

this didn't happen...

Yesterday our internet was out, well, actually I guess all I had to do was reset the router, but usually when I'm the that does that I tend to either push the wrong button and cause more problems. So, I just hung around waiting for my mom to come home at 3:30 to take me to my afternoon physical therapy visit.

I decided, since I couldn't get online to do my school lessons, that I'd watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince because, well, it's been a very long time since I had seen it.

As I watched the first, maybe hour, I was shocked to have not remembered half the stuff that happened. I mean, I knew the stuff happened because I've read the book. But I didn't remember seeing it before, like it was my first time seeing it.

And then I got to thinking, I had gotten the DVD for Christmas but I hadn't opened it because I had already seen it. But I can't for the life of me think back to when I saw it.  I'm thinking I probably saw it with my cousin, whom also went with me to watch Order of the Phoenix when it came out in theatres, but it still seemed so weird to me.

Let's just say, my mind was boggled yesterday.  I was slightly confused, and of course worried. Because, let's be honest, I love Harry Potter so much that I shouldn't forget stuff like this.

re-discovery!

If you know me, you're probably wondering along the same lines that I am right now...how have I not mentioned Harry Potter in my blog...well, I don't know to be honest...

It's been a few years since I last sat down and reread the series from the beginning to the end.  Within the past seven days, among other things I've been doing, I've been rereading the series. Today I started Prisoner of Azkaban, and I couldn't help but think about how much of the stuff I kind of forgot about or in general how I felt like it was almost like I had never read the books.

For a moment, it felt like I had just discovered the books and was kicking myself for not reading them sooner.  I just adore how Jo writes.  I used to kind of skim reads certain parts of the books when I would reread them because I knew what happened, but I've really made myself slow down and read closely. And there's a lot of things I've really forgotten about that I loved every time I read the books.

For example, in Sorcerer's Stone, there's a short passage that I absolutely love between Molly Weasley and her twin sons, Fred and George:

"Now, you two -- this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've -- blown up a toilet or --"

"Blown up a toliet? We've never blown up a toilet."

"Great idea though, thanks, Mom."

"It's not funny. And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."

United States paperback version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, chapter 6: The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters ; page 96

I've always enjoyed reading that part, and I had kind of forgotten about it over the last couple of years. It made me laugh so hard that my dad stuck his head into my room to see what was wrong.

It just goes to show that sometimes re-reading and even re-watching your favorite books and movies will remind how much you love them and in some cases point out new things you hadn't noticed before.

Now then...off to read some more Harry Potter. :) instead of doing my school lessons... 

change of pace

I have just recently decided that I'm changing up my blog, and broadening my topics of my blog posts.  I have a feeling that there will be a lot of blogging about Harry Potter going on.  Book and movie reactions possibly and just a bunch of random stuff...stuff that will actually make this seem a little more...blog-ish...and not so downing.