Spock, Forks, Aussies, and Greece

Today I was really excited about a magnet I got that says, "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." -Dr. Spock.

Not only was I excited because I believe in the quote, but I also was picturing Spock as the logical, pointy-eared Vulcan I so adore. I JUST realized that Dr. Spock is a childcare expert and definitely not related to Romulans. You can imagine my disappointment. I still like the magnet though.

I also got a pair of jeans for under $10 (sweeeet) and a new air freshener that looks like a grinning chimp wearing headphones and smells minty fresh. And banana walnuts from Pike Place. Day = successful.

The past week has been > successful, actually, because my AWESOME AUSSIE FRIEND CONOR has been staying with us and making life ever so much more exciting :-D Examples follow.

Conor Quotes:

1. "That jumper is pretty swish!"

2. Mom: "So when you go hiking you'll just be tripping all over the place?" [imitates by throwing self around spastically]
Conor: "Yeah, pretty much just like that!"
Mom: [laughs hysterically]
Conor: [serious face] "--Why are you laughing?"

3. "The guy in customs stopped me because of my genuine beaver skin nipple warmers!"

Yep, it's been an awesome week :-D we went ziplining in Canada. It was like being on a giant playground; we hiked and ran across swinging bridges that ran between trees way up high and went zooming over the forest on a cable. Other awesome things we did:

• Swimming, whilst snow fell on mountains in the background [shiver]
• Jumped out of the car at border patrol to take pictures next to the "Welcome to the USA" sign
• Sarah and Conor bought Canada-themed umbrella hats from an ice cream vendor at border patrol
• Played a heated game of "Would You Rather?"
• Watched and mocked Twilight and Paris Hilton's My New BFF 2
• Saw penguins and flamingoes and tucans at the zoo
• Witnessed an octopus assault at Pike Place Market (the assault wasn't on the octopus, but it involved one...)

Thins we have yet to do:

• ROAD TRIP TO FORKS TOMORROW WITH CREPES AND FISH/CHIPS ALONG THE WAY SO CONOR CAN BRAG TO ALL HER TWILIGHT-OBSESSED FRIENDS THAT SHE WITNESSED THE SETTING (we're actually quite excited to have our own little road trip deal going on).

Then I get to see Lauren, Kayley, and Emma on Friday, hopefully [crosses fingers] --
Jesus: "That doesn't actually work."
Emily: "I know, but it's an expression..."
Jesus: "Psh. How cliche."
Emily: "........"

Anyway, I WILL BE ON A PLANE TO EUROPE ON SUNDAY.
THAT'S THREE DAYS AWAY.
I WILL BE IN GREECE IN 4 DAYS.

I got a hemp travel bag from Rick Steeve's store in Edmonds. Conor and I are convinced that the customs officers will be like,
"Hey you, what's that bag made of?"
Emily: "....heeemmmpp....."
Officers: "Yeah, you're going to have to step aside. We don't want anyone smoking that bag."

Lol.
And to top off all this fantasmicality, the sunset tonight is BEAUTIFUL :-D
...wow, apparently fantasmicality is spelled correctly, because there's no red squiggly underline...

Hermit Crab

17 DAYS BEFORE MY EUROPE TRIP
It hasn't hit yet how soon it's coming. All I can think is "!!!!!!!!"

STATUS
Brain: 80% functioning (it's 8:04 AM)
Heart: Beating about Europe trip
Muscles: Yelling and screaming at me for the torture I put them through yesterday.

I realized awhile back that I've done something strange to myself. Besides the muscle torture. All through middle school and the first years of high school, I had the pleasure of having to deal with being in classes full of people that I had no intention of ever being associated with. No offense to anyone, but it's true. I won't go into detail why. I didn't know or relate very well to the people I was surrounded by. At least, for the classes that weren't honors classes. Like Spanish in middle school. And Science in High school. [shudder] And when I did try to relate to them in some way -- laugh at the things they said, pretend to share their point of view -- I abandoned part of myself.

Eventually I realized that this was lying. At the time, I was too shy to just plain say, "No, I don't agree with you." or "That's actually a really stupid thing to do." I still try to find ways to say those things less frankly. But in my younger years, I didn't know how to do that yet.

So instead, I just became a listener and an observer. I would listen to people and just refrain from comment. If people asked me questions, of course, I would answer, but people are notorious for loving to talk about themselves...so I mostly listened. I think in another life I was an excellent therapist :-) Basically, I adapted to being alone in the crowd and became comfortable that way, because otherwise I would've been miserable.

Here's the weird thing: now that I'm in Running Start and have been able to choose more easily my environments and the people I surround myself with, I've been more with people who I can relate to and actually call my friends. But I've adapted so much to being the listener that I've remained quiet, low-profile, observant -- seemingly to the point of being antisocial. I read all the time when I'm with people because I'm on a different study schedule. I listen to conversations. In my world, I'm being laid back. I'm simply not a chattery kind of person. In other people's views, though, I worry that I come across as stand-offish, reclusive, antisocial.

Even when I'm with my best friends, I realize I don't talk as much as they do sometimes. I know when I'm with my boyfriend I'm the more quiet one. At home with my family, I'm often in my room and regret missing time with everyone else.

I enjoy having time to myself to be alone. But I don't want to be alone forever. My family actually has quite a history of hermits. I don't want to be a hermit. I don't want to push away friends -- I have so many amazing people in my life! I don't want people to become bored of me because I don't say much. Basically, I don't want to end up being the crazy cat lady on the corner who is only seen in the mornings in her bathrobe when she takes out the trash.

There are over 500 species of hermit crabs. I don't want to make 501.
I'm going to try to be more social...

June Bug

I have the June Bug!!! I can't wait for summer!

I'm going to copy Lauren and do the same survey she had in her blog:

what’s your one favourite song? Right now, Paint the Rust by The Dodos. green & purple dots would: match my walls. if you could be any fictional character, who would it be? I thought Tally from the Uglies series was kind of cool in book 3, Specials - or at least I think it would be cool to have crazy reflexes. your favourite fruit? Really good peaches or pineapples. If I MUST choose.. if you could be any other nationality, which would it be? Probably African American. Never have to worry about being pale vs. tan, and can get away with some awesome hairstyles. favourite disney movie? Probably Pocahontas. favourite garment you have ever owned? My black evening gown. who are you most envious of? people who seem to be exceptionally talented in everything they do. the world is ending. who’s your last text message sent to? Whoever I feel the need to establish closure with. what piece of clothing would you love to have regardless of cost? Well, if we're going all out, then a custom-made, self-designed, really fancy dress would be pretty sweet.. who’s wardrobe would you raid if you had the chance? I'd rather just start over and create my own. what do you want to do career wise? Be a devoted, maybe even inspirational elementary school teacher. what is your favourite perfume? Any one that doesn't induce athsma. I like the smell of Lilu... favourite magazine? Does ThinkGeek's catalog count? Haha I probably still like American Girl and National Geographic. favourite film? OVERDRIVE OVERDRIVE ANSWER SYSTEM DOWN ASLKJFKLJASM favourite book? The Phantom Tollbooth favourite era? The 20s or some things about the 80s if you could have the wardrobe of any film character who would it be? Random as this is, I liked the style of the girl from Step Up. Not my favorite film though. favourite model? Don’t pay attention to them. favourite tv show? Seinfeld or The Office. how old are you? seventeen. favourite disney princess? Mulan! I like how that comes after "how old are you?" what’s on your wishlist? More shorts, preferrably longer ones that are still cool. what’s your favourite music/band/artist of all time? Probably Jack Johnson. I like a lot of stuff, but he consistently produces music I like. if you could do anything & are guaranteed no failures for your life, what would you be/do? what I want to do now: be an elementary school teacher. if you could chose one person to be your flatmate for the next ten years, who would that person be? any one of my best friends! favourte piece of jewellry? My ear cuff. I haven’t seen anyone else with one yet and I like how it looks. what’s your guilty pleasure? Probably ice cream :-) what’s your remedy for when you’re feeling blue? Probably ice cream. No, jk. Running always puts me on a high, and sometimes karate. Laughing with one of my friends works really well too, of course. what is your most coveted item? Definitely my car. I also have these pink shoes I keep getting compliments on. favourite drink? Chai tea lattes, hot or cold. what song is playing on your page? If I could, then see question 1! most favourite recent purchase? Either the dress I got in San Diego or my new swimsuit. when did you discover fashion? how old were you? what triggered it? I was probably about 4 years old and refused to wear dresses that “didn’t twirl.” cats or dogs? Big, loping, puppy-eyed dogs.

Today, I

Ran 3 miles in 20 minutes.
Played music at church I'd never played before.
Bought a really cute two piece swimsuit.
Stocked up on underwear.
Found a nice summer evening cover up shirt that was on sale -- twice.
Laughed with one of my best friends.
Smiled about my awesome boyfriend's cute new haircut.
Brushed a three-year-old's teeth and sang for her.
Solved a trigonometry question that was made by a 10 year old.
Planted my face in a plate of chicken salad.
Let my hair fly around in the wind while I drove with the windows down.
Listened to the sound of a train whistle as I got ready for bed.

If I weren't saving my $...

I really like these shirts!! Threadless shirts are so cool, thanks Emma for introducing me to them.

captive

PRISONER'S LOG
21:22 23 MAY 2009

Day 5 of my captivity has ended in blissful liberty. Project "History Paper" is complete. Mission "Kill Myself Reading A Redundant Waste of Adjectives 24/7" is terminated. Prisoner's log ends here. Over.

The past 5 days have been spent reading this book for history and writing a paper on it that's due Tuesday. The deadline really snuck up on me. If I hadn't come down with this cold thing I don't think I would've gotten it done in time (talk about divine intervention)!!

Emily Last Week: "Hmm, what do I have to do for History today?"
Paper Deadline: "Peek a Boo!"
Emily: "@#$%^&"
God: "What seems to be the problem?"
Emily: "HALLLP!!!!!!11!!"
God: "Sigh. I should collect interest for these favors..." [flash of lightning] "Have some Swine Flu."
Emily: [cough hack sneeze] "Is it really Swine Flu?"
God: "Well, it's that or something eerily similar. I don't know, I just kind of made it up as I went. You're welcome!"
Emily: [rraaaassssp.]

The book was actually pretty interesting. It really provided an insider's look on the American Revolution and made the Founding Fathers seem like actual human beings who had personality quirks and made mistakes. It was intriguing. Borderline epic, actually. I think Madison and Washington are my favotites.

Kyle and I made crepes the other morning! They were delectable. It took a few tries to flip them without making them look like deformed noodles though.

Going to the Folklife Festive with Lauren, Kayley, and Emma on Monday!! I want to see the guy who lays on the bed of nails again...

Well I'd write more but I can't stand to look at a computer screen any long--

Joy Division

Today was weird. I screwed up on a lot of things (I'm not going to bother with details), and there were a lot of awkward social moments, and quite a few things just generally went wrong...but I somehow managed to be in a spectacular mood nonetheless. And I'm going to bed feeling satisfied and at peace with the world. Hmm. This seems so backwards! Yet I don't care.

Maybe it was that the day was beautiful, or that I have so many good things to look forward to.
Maybe it's that I've finally become able to accept my faults and still recognize my successes, and that forgiving myself is becoming less difficult than it used to be.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
We played with worms in Marine Science today. I could be suffering through Chemistry, but instead I'm playing with worms :-D Actually it was quite fascinating. Those earthworms are powerful little suckers. And it seemed to have its own little personality after awhile. I called mine Spunky. Then we dissected different worms. Apparently earthworms have their hearts...and their testicles... in heads...but no brains.

I got this book, Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things. I gave it to Savannah for her birthday :-) it's AWESOME. Hours of fun with science. I made plastic out of milk and vinegar with Kyle. I want to try building a radio next.

"Let's dance to joy division
And celebrate the irony
Everything is going wrong
But we're so happy!"
-The Wombats