twelve/two

12 places I'd like to visit...
1. France
2. Ireland
3. California
4. New York
5. Hawaii
6. Africa
7. New Zealand
8. England
9. The Arctic Circle
10. Greece
11. India
12. Italy

Two people I'd bring with me...
Dane and Jacob my brother

12 memories I share with Dane...
1. Writing our initials on a wall of our favorite putt putt place
2. Teaching me to drive a jet ski and then not letting him drive it again because it was too fun
3. Getting stuck in pourring down rain at SDC and then the landing and practically everywhere we go
4. Sitting in a park with him and finally convincing him to sing for me, the first and only time so far
5. Seeing the midnight premier of the new Spider Man movie and waiting in line for hours
6. Going to one of our friend's wedding and dancing the night away with their big family
7. Having a picnic at Sequiota, feeding the ducks, and giving a little girl our bread so she could too
8. Watching White Christmas the day after Halloween and munching on our candy
9. Running around his house when no one was home pelting m&ms at each other and spraying water
10. Being stuck in a hospital for over 30 hours and him staying right by my side the whole time-twice
11. Forgetting what we needed at Walgreens because we just kept running around and goofing off
12. Eating dinner at a nice restaurant and getting served champagne without being carded (we did not order it, they brought it to us since it was New Years Eve, and we did not drink it!)

Food Glorious Food

Each family member of mine makes the same dishes for the same holidays every year. I am very much content in the safety and familiarity of the ritual of our family gatherings. For Thanksgiving: Nana makes orange jello salad with fruit inside and marshmallows on top; Papa makes the stuffing, the ham with pineapple, the turkey, and green bean casserole; my mom makes a large pan of sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows on top and some sort of salad or veggie dish, and also makes another turkey; I make a homemade pumpkin pie; my aunt buys a chocolate pie and bakes a blueberry pie and brings some sort of unrecognizable salad glop of some kind; my other aunt and uncle bring themselves and that's it...my mother provides our home and all the plates and silver wear and drinks-she loves coordinating these things. I just like the pie and sweet potatoes, to be honest. But the smells of our usual foods are comforting and inviting, and mean good memories, warm hugs, loud laughter, and full bellies. This year will be different for me, though, because in addition to my mom's side thanksgiving meal, I will be attending Dane's mom's and dad's dinners as well to meet new family members and try new dishes. I am nervous and excited! I really hope they like me and that the atmosphere isn't painfully different from my own home, or at least not different in a bad way. I doubt it will be, the parts of his family I have met so far have been excellent cooks and extremely friendly. I cannot wait to feast.
Christmas is the most diverse holiday for me of all. I visit two or three different events on my stepdad's side, one on my mother's, occasionally I'll go to my biological dad's side, and then there's Dane's mom's and dad's sides of the family as well. I love the food at the Christmas morning brunch the best, held by my great step grandparents. There are so many various kinds of eggs and bacon and biscuits with gravy, honey, jam, you name it. I love the coffee and angel food cake and one uncle even brings sushi! On Christmas Eve, my step grandparents will usually hold a gathering at their house with chips and cheese dip, mini meatballs, and Christmas cookies. We will eat and then open a present or two just to keep us satisfied so we can get some sleep before the big day. Last year we went to a relative on my stepdad's side out in the country for the first time, and it was a wonderful experience! New people, games, and food! I absolutely loved it. I love the smells, sights, and sounds.
Dessert has got to be my favorite part of both of these holidays, I have such a horrid sweet tooth, self control and discipline have to be begrudgingly enforced upon myself. I am not so much a cake or pie person, I am only partial to pecan pie, but I am a chocoholic! Especially around Christmas time when there are all kinds of peppermint chocolate candies and sweets, I just go nuts! My favorite indulgences are a peppermint mocha from Starbucks and homemade fudge I had last year made by Dane's grandparents.

Keepin It Reel

I have the special talent of making superb pancakes just like Marie in the movie. It began at a friend's house where I and a few other girls had slept over. We woke up the next morning, and I was the only willing volunteer to help the host make breakfast. I whisked the pancake mix, eggs, milk, the usual ingredients...but then thought that something else might sound good in there too. So I added my secret ingredients and everyone went nuts over my one of a kind chocolate chip pancakes. That was my first experience in making pancakes, but since then I have become an expert by practicing and watching to know just the right moment to flip, the precise chocolate to batter ratio, etc. It is an art, really. I love the smell of the cooking batter, the stickiness on my hands, my sometimes burnt finger tips, the smile on Dane's face when he eats them, watching him attempt to create a masterpiece (which are usually way undercooked for fear of burning them). I also enjoy making crepes because of the many different toppings you can add, but as for pancakes, I just eat them plain. I cannot stand syrup! It is liquid sugar, way too sweet and rich, and would ruin the blissful fluffiness I adore.

I do think that you can fall in love with someone within three days, without a doubt it can happen. It's not rocket science, it's just a matter of being comfortable around one another. Not a mushy gushy fireworks kind of feeling necessarily, just someone you can talk to about anything, and laugh with and hold hands with. Someone who is your best friend but you really want to kiss them at the same time. People have a natural instinct to bond with people or not, sometimes your personalities click, sometimes they clash, sometimes they fall together perfectly like puzzle pieces. I think it's really just about being together and feeling safe with that person, not like you have to try to impress them, but that you can simply be yourself and that's more than enough for them. Love isn't really about the physical attraction as much as it is the connection and bonding between two spirits, because when it comes down to it, who you are is on the inside, and if you only love the outside of someone, you haven't really found them yet to know if you love them or not.

My favorite movie is impossible to narrow down, but the qualities of a great movie in my mind are this:
Good music, highs and lows through music
Real plot, realistic goals, believable plot, meaningful plot
Real acting, passionate acting, lively connection between characters
Consistency throughout scenes
At least a little bit of romance
Surprise ending, plot twist, believable plot twist, logical surprise ending
Comic relief throughout

The kinds of movies I don't usually care for too much are those that are crude in one way or another, whether it be overbearing foul language, a lot of (unnecessary) sexual content, too much gore and/or violence, etc. I do quite enjoy dramas, action, and even the occasional horror film, but I do believe these are just as easily accomplished without the secular additives. I do appreciate the fact that movies have ratings as warnings for the content, but anymore, a PG13 or even a PG movie (where kids will definitely be present) can get away with an awful lot to still be considered PG. This is unsettling to how all conservativeness has simply gone out the window and how desensitized our society is to such vulgar content on an enormous screen in public or even in our own homes.

I watch movies quite often, we don't have cable at my house so I love an outing to the theater to see a new release! Or, what I like maybe even more is renting an old classic to watch at home with a friend with a big comfy blanket. I like to have a cup of hot tea or cocoa to watch a movie with at home, I definitely like to be warm. Going to movies is a typical bonding experience for my family and me, but my friends and I, or Dane and I, prefer to stay home to watch one. Dane is kind of a home body, and so am I, but where going out is concerned, among the small list of places I go, movies would have to be at the top.

Your Personality and Film Use Results

Thanks for taking part! Your results are as follows:

Results

YOUR PERSONALITY
Take a look at how you scored on the Big Five personality dimensions below.
Your scores, compared with the responses of other people, suggest that you may be described as follows:

YOU ARE 100% EXTRAVERTED. You are extraverted, outgoing, active and high-spirited. You prefer to be around people most of the time.

YOU ARE 100% AGREEABLE. You are compassionate, good natured, and eager to cooperate and avoid conflict.

YOU ARE 100% CONSCIENTIOUS. You are conscientious and well organised. You have high standards and always strive to achieve goals.

YOU ARE 67% EMOTIONALLY STABLE. You are generally calm and able to deal with stress, but you sometimes experience feelings of guilt, anger and sadness.

YOU ARE 92% OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES. You are open to new experiences. You have broad interests and are very imaginative.


WHY YOU WATCH MOVIES

We have proposed 10 psychological uses for watching films.
Below are your scores for each of these 10 uses, and the relevant descriptions of the ways in which you enjoy films.



PLEASURE-SEEKING: 70%

NOSTALGIA: 65%

Your high score on the “pleasure seeking” dimension suggests that you are a hedonistic movie watcher – this means you enjoy films that give you pleasure or make you feel good.

The “nostalgia” dimension refers to the extent to which you watch movies in order to re-experience the past. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.






CATHARSIS: 50%

AGGRESSION: 30%

The “catharsis” dimension refers to the extent to which you watch movies in order to feel miserable and suffer with the characters of the movie. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.

The “aggressive” dimension refers to the extent to which you enjoy watching violent movies in order to release aggression or tension. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.






ESCAPISM: 50%

SENSATION-SEEKING: 25%

The “escapism” dimension refers to the extent to which you watch movies in order to escape or forget about reality. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.

Your low score on the “sensation seeking” dimension suggests that you do not watch movies in order to experience arousing feelings – thus you do not have a tendency to prefer exciting or adrenaline-fuelled movies.






ARTISTIC: 50%

INFORMATION-SEEKING: 30%

The “artistic” dimension refers to the extent to which you are interested in aesthetically driven, conceptual, and highly creative films. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.

The “information seeking” dimension refers to the extent to which you are a curious and intellectual movie watcher. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.






BOREDOM-AVOIDANCE: 50%

SOCIALISATION: 75%

The “boredom avoidance” dimension refers to the extent to which you watch films primarily as a means of avoiding boredom. Your score on this dimension is average or similar to most people.

Your high score on the “socialising” dimension suggests that you are more interested in the company of others than the actual movie; and that you rarely see the point of watching movies alone. Watching movies is a social experience for you.






(The pictures above are demonstrative of the highest instance of each film use dimension, and do not necessarily relate to your own score.) The aim of this study is to examine how people's personalities relate to the reasons they watch films. For instance, extraverted people are expected to watch films socially and in a pleasure-seeking way, but not to induce catharsis. Agreeable people are expected to watch films in a pleasure-seeking way as well, but would not be expected to enjoy aggressive movies; while conscientious people would also not be expected to enjoy aggressive films, but rather would watch films in an information-seeking way. Emotionally-stable people would be expected to watch films for pleasure-seeking, but not in a nostalgic way, nor for catharsis, escapism or artistic merit. Open people would be expected to watch films for their escapism, artistic value, information-seeking, sensation-seeking and boredom-avoidance dimensions, but not in the pursuit of nostalgia.

This is...

This is the meeting of his lips to her face
This is the first kiss, the first burst of flavor, the bite of the fruit of knowledge when everything becomes so clear
This is the beginning of the love story, for every kiss was like the first
This is what we all should learn, to kiss and love with all our might until the very end, for we are not all fortunate enough to live in ignorance of when the end shall come
This is the beginning of her new life
This is the end of theirs
This is the first and last kiss

Inspired

He took a moment to himself, a thing we all often should take. He turned from me so that I could not see his eyes, he was no fool, those deep chocolate eyes were unable to speak falsely; you could learn anything you'd like to know just by looking into his eyes, like windows. He gazed across the vastness of the glassy pool, as if he were searching for the answer there. He stood without moving, but not without breathing, I could see his breath, for when he breathes it's more than breathing. He is pulling life into him and it fills up his entire beautiful body, and when the meeting of life and his body has taken place, they part ways for a moment, and the life escapes through those breathtaking pink lips, satisfied to have met with such an inspired soul. I watch him breathe while I take no true breaths of my own, only short gasps of desperation, anticipation, wonder. I am a ragdoll in my swing, succumbing to the sway of the breeze in my hair, on my skin...I long to touch and drink in his curly locks and soft skin. I shoot my gaze down in a moment of coy embarrassment at such a thought. My toes reach downward to kiss the damp sand below. The amazement of the relief I feel overwhelms me, how weightless I feel since flinging my cumbersome pack from my shoulders with three simple words I uttered to my best friend only moments ago, oh how the moments seem like hours to me. He raises his arms, parallel to the dusty shore, to embrace the sea life beyond where he stands. I bound from my seat and race towards my companion to embrace him in all of his flawlessness. He turns to smile at me with his porcelain teeth and his cherry cheeks, a prominent dimple on his left. The smiles disappears after the moment of the surprise hug, and he fixes his eyes directly on mine. I try to speak, but my mouth is like rust which can only be oiled by his succulent kiss. He senses my worry and lightly his fingertips dance across my hair. He speaks for me, the words I've been waiting to hear since the day I met him, "I love you, too."

He took a moment to himself
A thing we all often should take
He turned from me so that I could not see his eyes, he was no fool
Those deep chocolate eyes were unable to speak falsely
You could learn anything you'd like to know just by looking into his eyes, like windows

He gazed across the vastness of the glassy pool
As if he were searching for the answer there
He stood without moving, but not without breathing
I could see his breath
For when he breathes it's more than breathing

He is pulling life into him and it fills up his entire beautiful body
And when the meeting of life and his body has taken place
They part ways for a moment
And the life escapes through those breathtaking pink lips
Satisfied to have met with such an inspired soul

I watch him breathe while I take no true breaths of my own
Only short gasps of desperation, anticipation, wonder
I am a ragdoll in my swing
Succumbing to the sway of the breeze in my hair, on my skin
I long to touch and drink in his curly locks and soft skin

I shoot my gaze down in a moment of coy embarrassment at such a thought
My toes reach downward to kiss the damp sand below
The amazement of the relief I feel overwhelms me
How weightless I feel since flinging my cumbersome pack from my shoulders
With three simple words I uttered to my best friend only moments ago
Oh how the moments seem like hours to me

He raises his arms, parallel to the dusty shore
To embrace the sea life beyond where he stands
I bound from my seat and race towards my companion to embrace him
In all of his flawlessness
He turns to smile at me with his porcelain teeth and his cherry cheeks
A prominent dimple on his left

The smiles disappears after the moment of the surprise hug
And he fixes his eyes directly on mine
I try to speak, but my mouth is like rust
Which can only be oiled by his succulent kiss

He senses my worry
And lightly his fingertips dance across my hair
He speaks for me, the words I've been waiting to hear
Since the day I met him,
"I love you, too."

The Spoofs

'Twas a breezy Autumn day
When the Spoofs came out to play
Fall was in the air
But the leaves seemed sort of bare
They were green, but that was all
Not nearly colorful enough for fall
There was certainly work to be done
But the Spoofs would make it fun

Whoosh! Swish! They all came out
From under their grass beds with a joyous shout
Each little furry fairy had a special job to do
Some would hold the paint, some would hold the glue
Tiny brushes grasped within their itty bitty paws
Stroke both up and down and side to side to ensure there will be no flaws
Spoofs love to paint the leaves each year as they sing and dance and laugh
They mix each color with tender care, I can tell you on their behalf

Sunset gold and striking crimson
Chocolate, pumpkin, canary, cinnamon
All the bright bold colors you see in the fall
Are created by the smallest creatures of all
They're precise in their work, so you'd never guess
That they're favorite part is when they get to make a mess!
They fly and whiz by, dance, and jump up and down
Through the branches of the trees till the leaves trail to the ground
When they're satisfied they sit and wait with an anxious smile
Waiting for someone like you to come jump in a leaf pile

So when the calendar begins to nudge you towards November
And the leaves start to change, you can always remember
To keep your eyes fixed and perk up your ear
You never can be sure when a Spoof may be near
If you don't spot one, there's no need to shed a tear
They'll be back to bring the magic when autumn comes next year

Child's Play

When I was younger, I always wished for the time to pass more quickly. Be careful what you wish for, it is unreal to me that I am about to graduate high school already. I really wish I had some of that time back to just relax, when things were simpler and everyone got along. Although, my ten year old self certainly would have appreciated a day to be a grown up. I'm sure I would have spent gobs of money on milkshakes, candy, and barbies. I probably would have taken my friends to the movies and to Incredible Pizza. The best part would probably be telling people what to do, little kids hate to be bossed around, yet they all long to be the boss. As a young adult now, I think I would enjoy being small again evenn more than I would have loved being bigger back then. I would utilize nap time to the fullest, and bask in the fact that coloring and watching Disney movies is completely acceptable. I would laugh myself silly knowing that algebra and long essays were not to be expected of me, and that homework would merely consist of knowing addition, subtraction, and how to spell simplistic words. I know now from experience, although I am still quite young and naive, that rushing the time is the worst thing you can do, because you will only end up sitting there dreading each slow passing day. The time is going to pass anyway, might as well sit back and enjoy it.

I wouldn't say that he was the most important person to me, but he was pretty high up there. I had a crush on the same guy from preschool all the way through middle school. Our mothers are still good friends to this day, but back then my mom stayed home and his worked, so we would babysit him and his sister on a regular basis. Perfect opportunity to become close to him. We were childhood bestfriends in every way, but were too shy to confess our crushes, so our puppy love remained silent. We eventually told each other about our mutual feelings one summer when my mom had taken us to get smoothies. It was very awkward and adorable...I will never forget it. We are still good friends, but unfortunately do not get to see each other on a regular basis as he goes to Glendale. He has blossomed into an extremely handsome, charming young man. I suppose this could answer the question about a friend who reached a different level of popularity as well. He is a star basketball player and adored by every girl who sees him. When we were younger, we used to play role-play type games together, we would take our favorite shows and characters and pretend to be them and go on adventures. I always thought he was going to be my first kiss when I was in elementary school. If only I hadn't been so shy, I am anything but shy now. I'm glad that I have grown into the person I am today though. Perhaps that experience shaped me into my outgoing personality.

There is nothing more I wish I would have known as a kid, because I believe that ignorance is bliss and innocence should be preserved for as long as possible. When you're a kid, you think that everything and everyone is good and nice, sort of like Little Red Riding Hood. Kids, or at least me as a kid, always put their trust in people. Now, I wish I didn't know how dangerous that can be. I have been deceived by many people, and it has caused me to put up a barrier-a thin barrier, but a wall none the less. I am wary of people and their promises occasionally, but I am a person who is always of good intentions, so it is hard for me to imagine someone setting out to hurt someone else, the idea just seems impossible. I am saddened by some people's dishonesty, however I am somewhat grateful for my knowledge so I am not constantly being fooled and taken advantage of. It's strange, growing up. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to be older, then I transformed and wished I could only stay young forever like Peter Pan. Now, I have seemingly entered a new phase in which I yearn for more independence, responsibility, freedom, and adulthood. My parents laugh at me, and tell me I don't know how good I have it right now. I'm just going to have to trust them, because after all, they were children once too.

Books for Kids

Title of the book: The Night Before Christmas
Author of the book: Clement C. Moore
Is there an author's bio in the front of back of the book? No.
Describe the cover in a detailed sentence: It is a picture of Santa Clause, smiling at you, driving his sleigh and his scarf blowing in the wind. The title is encircled in a wreath like circle with various Christmas ornaments, peppermints, and trees.
Does this book...
have animals as main characters? No.
use rhyme? Of course!
teach a lesson of some kind? Not really, it encourages kids to believe in Santa.
have monsters or creatures? Santa could somewhat be considered a mythical creature, as well as his flying reindeer.
have kids as characters? Briefly the story mentions the children as they are tucked into bed.
have adults as characters? Yes, the perspective of the story is that of a grown man.
use humor? Yes, some lines are giggle worthy.
have illustrations? The illustrations in this book are detailed, bright, cheery and delightful, they are my favorite that I have seen to depict this classic tale.
use color? The pages are nothing but colorful! 
use actual photos? No.
have a more sentimental/lovey tone? Most definitely, it is all in high spirits, describing imagination, hopes and dreams, wonder, magic, etc.
lots of words per page? The pictures take up much more room than the words, sometimes there will be one paragraph for two pages.
one word or phrase repeated throughout? No.
Copy down your favorite/most interesting sentence in the book: "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the courses they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too."
What ages do you think this book would be appropriate for? I believe all ages would appreciate this book, it is an excellent pick for a family to enjoy together.
Why? It touches all hearts, because everyone, at one time or another, believed in Santa Clause.
Is this a book you would have liked as a kid? I adored this book as a kid!
Why? I loved all of the descriptive words that paint the picture in your head, and it gave me hope of someday meeting Santa.
# of pages: 30

Spooky Share

Ben's story was about a boy who unknowingly is captured and trapped in an eerie cellar, with only a few miscellaneous items including a teddy bear whose eyes appear to be cameras indicating that the someone who abducted him is still watching.
Natalie's story is still in the works and involves a girl who in the midst of trying to deal with everyday teen life and stress, such as studying for a test at school, also has a life and death situation in the back of her mind. A mysterious plague has struck her small town and she tries not to panic when she begins to notice some mild symptoms of a cold.
Tori wrote about a lonely girl who lives an ordinary mundane life with her busy parents. They have only been living in their new house for about five years, but after a restless night, the girl awakens to find that they may not be the only inhabitants of their home. (I won't spoil the end, there is a surprise you will not want to miss!)
I very much enjoyed each of these stories, and how they all incorporated suspense and mystery.

Halloween has always been my all time favorite holiday, and I am so sad that it only lasts one day a year and then is forgotten about, unlike Christmas which lasts a whole season. I love dressing up and being with my friends, munching on sweet snacks and getting mildly scared. Tonight, I am dressing up as Cat woman and I adore my costume because it is very comfortable and will keep me warm in the chilling October air! I have two parties to attend and then, despite my age, I am most definitely going trick or treating! It is a timeless tradition that I will continue to participate in as long as I can get away with it!

Hope everyone has a safe, adventurous night!

Halloween Spirits

My favorite Halloween was the time I went trick or treating with a huge group of girl friends freshman year. I dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake and died my hair pink! It was probably my favorite costume so far. We got all dressed up, went trick or treating, then went back to my friend's house to devour our candy and watch a scary movie. We were up all night, I'm still not sure if it was because we were scared or if we were just hyped up on sugar. I had such a fun night that Halloween because I got to bond with my friends and just be silly girls for a while. Another good Halloween was the year after. It was the first year ever I had not been trick or treating, but instead I invited some friends over to watch scary movies and have some yummy snacks. Well, someone got the bright idea to play truth or dare which ended in several unexpected kisses and me doing the cinnamon challenge. I regret it a little bit, but looking back I can laugh at the huge cloud of brown smoke I coughed out while my friends laughed hysterically. Everyone does the challenge once, but never, ever again.  

Write a Halloween poem using the following words:  night

A sparking candy bowl
Away the pumpkins roll
On her broom a witch will crawl
As the wind begins its brawl
The soaring wings of bats crack  
Orange and gold lights turn to black
The calls of tricks or treats
And spooky shadows roam the streets
It's a scary horrific sight 
But it will be alright
It's only children on their plight
To have an adventure on Halloween night

And the Beat Goes On...

Since I was not here for these musical activities, I think I will just share some recent song lyrics I have written.
This song is called "I Will"

People try to figure out how to pass the time
Spending all their time trying to figure out how to pass the time
But did they consider just for a minute
To let go of life so they can finally begin it
I guarantee they'd be satisfied
Looking back I can see I was guilty of
Running in circles till I ran right into your love

I stopped dead in my tracks
One look at you and I'm never looking back
And I promise to give you all that I have

I will wrap my arms around your body and gently squeeze
So we can be tightly bound together and kick back shooting the breeze
I will plant kisses like seeds on your body so in time
Your love for yourself will grow as strong as mine
Because I love you more than you'll ever know
Warmer than the sun and purer than the snow
And I love you more than you'll ever comprehend
You're the middle beginning and end
Of my story

People try to find the way to be husband and wife
They go searching for the secret of how to live a fulfilling life
But did they consider to give it a rest
Life's what you make it so make it the best
And let yourself live with no regrets

You give me a hand when mine are full
When I'm down you give my heart strings a pull
I thought I was wise but for you I'm a fool

I will press my face against your body and bat my eyes
It'll feel silly but that's ok your laugh gives me butterflies
I will press my chest against your body beneath the sheets
And I'll tell you I adore you from your hair down to your two left feet
Because I love you more than words can tell
Higher than the mountain from which I fell
You're my best friend and my lover
You're every page from cover to cover
Of my story

Through sickness and health
Through rich and through poor
I'll be your heaven through hell
I'll be your sun through the storm
Wherever life takes us I'll put you first
You're my better half for better or for worse

I will plant kisses like seeds on your body so in time
You'll fall in love with your body like you taught me to love mine
I will race to you wherever you call
I will pick up the pieces and glue them together like they'd never been broken at all
Because I love you more than the fish love the water
Maybe someday we'll have a son or a daughter
And we'll teach them how to love and how to ride a bike and they'll be
Our story

If music died, the world would die with it...

A song that reminds me of someone I love is Bohemian Rhapsody, because Dane and I always freak out when it comes on in his car and sing along very dramatically. There are a lot of songs like this; although I enjoy singing, he does not, so whenever I start singing he will join in with a ridiculous voice and I can't help but follow along. His silliness is contagious, and it is expressed through music, my favorite thing in the world.
When I am in the car with someone, it is anything but easy to agree on a radio station. My mom likes country, my brother likes pop, my boyfriend likes rap, and I like classic rock, smooth jazz, and musical theatre of course. So no one is ever really happy with the music playing, it is a difficult task to meet in the middle with such opposing genres. Sometimes, if I cannot stand a song that is playing and the person refuses to change it...I will be my little passive self and start singing another song, louder and louder to compete with the radio. When I work out is when I get to listen to what I love: rock. Rock music helps me get pumped up and excited, so it is the perfect way to have some time to myself and kick it into gear.
When I was growing up, the hard core rap was in its first stages of popularity, and some of my friends parents would forbid them to listen to it, or even go to certain social events where the music would be played. I never had any interest in music with heavy drums, screaming, swear words, and references to drugs or sex. It offends me very much that this style is considered music. To each their own, but I believe that music should cleanse the soul, and this profanity and violence incorporated into what young adolescents are jamming out to causes nothing but damage.
Asking me what my favorite song is, is like asking me why the sky is blue: you know, but it's so hard to explain. I really like songs that have special meanings to me; the Lady Gaga songs I danced with my friends to, The Time of My Life was the first song that I slow danced to, For Good the last song I sang to my aunt before she passed away. As far as artists, my interests range from Colbi Caillat and Harry Connick Jr. to Green Day and Journey. I like a wide variety, but what they all have in common is passion for art, and meaningful, relatable lyrics.
I have only been to one concert in my life so far, and it was memorable for me because I went with my mom and brother to see someone we frequently listened to in the car, so it was a neat experience to hear those same songs we blare in the car blaring in an enormous auditorium with hundreds of other fans. I think concerts are special, because of how tangible it all is. Rather than hearing the artist's voice on a recording, you can hear the rich sounds and see the looks on their face so you can understand what the song means to them, you can see the sweat on their brow and how fast their hands dance across their instruments. Also, you get to share all of the love with people around you from all over the world, some you have never seen before and never will again, but you are united in this one beautiful blissful moment by music and adoration for a melody. If I had a time machine, I swear the first thing I would do is go see a Beatle's concert.

Six Word Memoir

Love to live, live to love.

Singing is always the best medicine.

Nine to five for my four. -My mom

No childhood back then, but now. -My nana

Anything but boring I will be.

Everyone left me behind, except you.

Window Poem

Straight ahead I see green
Then I know there must be a low deck beneath the olive canopy with a comfy chair and a smoky, musky smell awaiting us
But now I sense the presence of someone new, a flash of red catches my eye
The first cardinal has arrived at the bird feeders
I always know it is autumn when the cardinals come to peck at the seed, with their brilliantly bright breasts
Now that the red bird has shown himself, I notice the clarity of the sky, peeking through the leaves at us, and the breeze gently swaying the branches so they look like they are dancing
If I could see beyond the great trees I would smile in hopes of seeing our children running through yard, filling it to the brim with innocence, laughter, and discovery
But it is all my imagination, sparked by the wondrous green through your window
And it is only you and I, alone together in the sweet silence of the afternoon
And that is enough for now, and always

My favorite quotes of all time

"Be the change you want to see in the world," -Mahatma Gandhi

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr.

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." -Albert Einstein

(Marilyn is my favorite....)

 

"There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice." -The Great Gatsby

 

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward," -Abraham Lincoln

 

"Believe you can and you're half way there." -Theodore Roosevelt

 

"It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't." -Martin van Buren

 

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." -Harry S. Truman

 

"I think everybody is weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it." -Johnny Depp

(He is so beautiful...)

"Laugh as much as you breathe, love as long as you live." -Johnny Depp

(...and kind of a hippie)

Blackout Poem

Are you going to think you're released after time alone
It's not a gift it's a chance
You are not kept by law
But the law is within yourself

If you think about this too much, it really makes no sense...
But if you just read it, it might sound kind of dark and mysterious...
I don't know, interpret it for yourself.

Artist Profile: Autumn is Alive



Autumn is alive
Every fiber of its being, every twig, every nook and cranny, every drop of water is coherent, deeply inhaling the vibrancy of it all and warmly exhaling with a caressing passion in an easy, undeniably sweet and addictive rhythm
Autumn is alive
The trees reaching and stretching their creaky branches higher than they ever thought they could
Aspiring to taste even a hint of the bluest, dreamiest sky they have ever witnessed
Autumn is alive
The leaves playfully tugging away at their stems, yearning to dance through the air as they float to the ground, laughing and twirling, trailing and sailing, landing gracefully to their silent slumber
Autumn is alive
Summer's greenest grass gradually growing grayer and groggy, all the hues in the world fading to inviting, cozy undertones of thick, glossy gold
As if mother nature smoothly dimmed the lights to set the calm, romantic mood, and hush the earth
Autumn is alive
Autumn is often accused to be a funeral, a final, sorrowful goodbye to the sun in preparation for winter, frostbite, and death, the end
But the glorious truth is held within the breath taking colors of each tiny, crispy, wispy leaf
Autumn is a celebration of life itself, the meaning of liveliness, teaching us to take nothing for granted, because there is utter beauty in absolutely everything
Autumn is alive
Autumn is affection and cinnamon, seeping with love and understanding, finding its majestic way right down to what makes you hum and tic, filling your soul to the brim with softness, embracing you with spices and a blanket of colors you never knew existed
Autumn is alive
Autumn is delicate and delightful, delicious and deep
It gently lulls the world into a certain unexplainable tenderness and endearment and ambition
An uplifting roaring spirit of anticipation for the unknown, a curiosity of the wonder and mystery of the season
Autumn can send your heart on a high speed chase and the brightest smile crawling across your face
It empties your mind of junk and worries, fears and hesitation, it wipes your slate clean of pain, grief, anger, confusion, doubt
Autumn is alive
It generously embellishes your well deserved stomach with sizzling ciders that cast away the brisk air
The friendly fragrance of fine, fluffy, freshly baked bread twitches your nose and engulfs your childlike desires for mother's home cooked meals, drawing you near the blazing oven
Autumn awakens and arouses each and every one of the senses
Autumn is alive
This is the magic, the faith and belief in what you cannot see, but what you feel so surely, it rattles your bones and pulses through your veins
Letting it overwhelm, overcome, surround you
Surrendering to what lies within you
It is life, and autumn is calling for you to take its hand and begin to live it
Really, fully, extensively, happily, joyfully, abundantly live it
You are alive
Autumn is alive

Hopper Painting Inspired Piece

This picture of tree tops made me think of when I was a little girl playing outside in my grandparents' backyard. The trees in this painting are nearly identical to the view I vividly remember from my childhood of looking up during the fall. When I was younger, everything seemed much bigger, broader, taller, more curious and magical. This piece of art perfectly depicts that wonder I had looking up at those trees that seemed to touch the clouds. They had a swing set for my brother and me and each of us would try to swing higher than the other, and that's when I would look up at the colorful autumn branches the most. There were two enormous trees and one smaller one, which we would climb up nearly everyday and brag about our bravery, even though it isn't much taller than I am now. In my nana and papa's backyard is where our stories and games came to life; we would chase each other, use sticks as guns, swords, wands, animals, you name it. My brother and I were very imaginative back then, and we still are. Now when I go out back at their house, the swings are much lower, the trees are much shorter, the steps to the deck aren't as steep, the holes in the fence aren't as large, and our favorite climbing tree is dying...but the wondrous, playful, carefree memories of just a decade ago still live vibrantly in my mind and heart. I'm so glad I got a glimpse of my past again, just by looking at that simple picture of tree tops.

Pillow Talk

I have a lot of trouble going to sleep at night. I always have a million things zooming through my mind right as soon as I hit the pillow. I will be exhausted, so I turn out the light and close my eyes, and just like someone flipped a switch I am wide awake again, pondering the most random things. Last night for instance, I had a long, sweaty, five hour rehearsal. I was too tired to even get in the shower, I just headed straight for the bed. As soon as I was all settled though, I couldn't stop thinking about what to get my boyfriend for Christmas. How ridiculous is that?! So I hopped on my phone-big mistake-and I started texting him to get my mind off of it, but then I got on Google to look up ideas...and then cute wedding proposal stories...and then wedding dresses...and it just went down hill from there. It's not always like this, where I just succumb to my racing thoughts, but sometimes I'm actually stuck on some really deep things; like if I've had an argument with someone, I try to think of ways it could have gone differently. Some nights I just lay there and think of every embarrassing thing I have done and I sink deeper and deeper into my mattress in utter disbelief that I actually did these things that no one else probably even remembers, but I do. I lay there and wonder who else is still awake that I could talk to about this problem. I try to listen to music but that just makes me want to sing and write my own music. If I eat or drink anything that just keeps me up even longer. This pattern results in either an exhausted regretful Kayla the next morning, or I oversleep to the point of no return. Last Monday for instance, I was a rock, my mom could not wake me up and I ended up sleeping till 2 pm!!! I was so upset with myself! I have never slept that long before! I think it might have something to do with my heavy rehearsal schedule as well, but most times, I just cannot sleep. Although, when I am with Dane, I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. In fact, on our very first date, we went to see this movie with a big group of friends. It wasn't just that I was tired, the movie was just really bad and boring...so we ended up holding hands, and before I knew it I had fallen fast asleep on his shoulder. I woke up and he was so surprised that I was sleeping-he thought I was snuggling with him! Ha! At least I know that if we do end up married one day, that my insomnia may finally cease for good.

Bright Future

I was not present for the presentation on Monday because around this time of year is when I really have to discipline myself to not oversleep no matter how much I'm longing to stay all snuggled up in my warm fluffy blankets...but alas, Monday I overslept right through my obnoxious alarm clock. I have no good excuse other than I occasionally struggle with insomnia, and I am addicted to my pillows. Therefore, my question about the presentation is what it was about?! I've heard people discussing that it was about an art institute, and I would like to know where as well as what kind of art is studied there?
As far as my own future goes...
In a year I see myself in college, studying theatre at Drury, still with my outrageously handsome and sweet boyfriend who will be hopefully finally deciding what he's going to do with his beautiful life. A year is not very hard to foresee and imagine and dream about, I know what I want to be doing and where and why. Ten years though? At twenty-seven years old I do not have the slightest clue where I will be living, but I would hope to have been married at least five years. I wouldn't have any children yet, but would have beginning a family on my mind and heart. I would hope to be graduated, of course, and continuing on with my party/wedding/event planning business and still engaging in some theatrical arts every now and again. I want to have traveled out of the country by then, to Ireland or France. I do not want to move very far away from my family, though.
Ten years seems so very distant from me at my young age of seventeen, but fifty years? Holy cow! First of all, I hope I am blessed enough to live that long. My nana is still kicking at 74 and doesn't look a day over 60, so fingers crossed that she passed some of those genes down to me. I'm not sure exactly what I want my life to look like in fifty years, I'm not sure I would even want to know what it would look like I want it to be adventurous and full of surprises! I do want to be able to look back at the things I've done with no regrets, I want to reminisce with a smile, and I want to be with someone forever, someone to grow old with and sit on a rocking chair on a front porch with me and drink coffee and read the paper...growing old together is something to be cherished between spouses, I think. I'm certainly not looking forward to growing old, being young is blissful; but since I'm inevitably going to arrive at 67 years old someday, I hope I still have a man right beside me to tell me how good I still look!

The Third-Floor Bedroom Window

 
It all began
When some old man
Let some sunshine in
Left the window open
It was only stale air
Running through his gray hair
He wanted to feel
Something fresh, something real
So he flung back the curtain
He was never more certain
Today was the beginning
Of a the battle he'd be winning
He would suppress all of the pain
Firm grip on the window pane
His pride his only ally
His hardened heart would live by
A rule that he would be happy alone
He'd forget how he had once called her his own
And how much their love had blossomed and grown
And how the restless days would drone and moan
In love again he'd like to be
But his heart had died and so had she
It all began when some young guy
Noticed an open window and decided to spy
Now he was old and angry in his doom
Standing where he first saw her, in her third-floor bedroom
"It all began when someone left the window open..."

The House On Maple Street

Shaun laid still and stiff as a soldier under his Spiderman sheets. He listened harder, but he couldn't make out words, only shouting. His parents had been going at it for nearly an hour already, it was their third fight this week. A silent tear streamed down the small boy's cheek, he tried to swallow the stinging lump in his throat. He closed his wide green eyes and imagined days where his family was happily united; going to the park to walk Sadie, their beagle, or just sitting on the couch all snuggled up watching a Disney movie with warm, buttery popcorn.
He remembered the feeling of togetherness, the soft sweet words spoken between them. The would say, "I love you!" as if it were the first realization of it, and smash their lips into each other right in front of him, and Shaun would say, "Ewe! Mom!" What he would give now to get those sloppy slurpy kisses back.
Suddenly, everything went silent. He was trembling, but then he opened his eyes and realized that his bed was the thing trembling. In fact, his whole room was shaking and rattling. He swung his feet to the floor and darted over to the window to find that his house was glowing! He sprinted out the door and down the stairs, doing his best to keep balanced in the house which had seemingly come to life.
In the living room stood his parents, with their arms around each other, beaming.
"Mom?! Dad?! The house is shaking!" They did not look at him. He tried again a little louder, "Guys I'm scared!" His mother laughed and pushed her auburn hair behind her ear. "Don't worry Shaun, we're going on a trip." He had never been more confused! Before he had time to ask anymore questions, he was thrown to the floor by the most violent shake yet.
"Might want to hold onto something there, sport." His father chuckled. Shaun's belly turned, like the feeling he got when riding in an elevator. He glanced out the huge family room window and did a double take-were those the tops of the trees in the neighbor's yard? Shaun gasped, "The house is flying?!" Both his parents giggled. "Of course son!" His father assured him. "We're going to the moon!" His mother pressed her lips against her husband's stubbly cheek to give him a peck. "It was the perfect lift off." She sighed. "You're the perfect one!" His father cooed at her.
Shaun didn't know if he should be relieved that his parents had stopped arguing, or concerned that his house was supposedly a rocket ship. It was an awful lot for a ten year old to take in all in one night. Especially because he was afraid of heights. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his tiny fists, wishing he was back on the glorious ground!
Silence again.
Hesitantly, he opened his eyes, and let go of the blanket he was clenching onto. He sat up in bed and stared in disbelief at the golden glow engulfing his room.
He had been fast asleep.

Puzzles

I am an analytical person. It is evident in everything I do, and not only that, I tend to seek out problems to fix. I can get so caught up in a game of Sudoku or a crossword puzzle, I just forget everything around me and focus on my mind's strength. I love challenging my mind, I never take the easy way out of things because I think we appreciate things most when we have worked hard for them, and that things worth having are worth working for. I'm definitely the person to call on whenever you have a tangled cord of some kind, I will devour the intricate twists and turns in attempting to unwind it. I wolf down delicious mysteries, whether in books, movies, or on television. I love puzzles! I love finding new ways to work puzzles, should you go forward to back, or back to front? As it turns out, participating in problem solving at least once a day is proven to prevent Alzheimer's in the elderly years. My memory will always be spot on! Puzzles also just improve general intellect, you discover how to maneuver through puzzles and your brain will respond more efficiently to real life puzzles and problems. It is a healthy and magnificent thing to learn new things and find new paths to try, to stop looking at the big picture and just focus on one piece at a time, to stop thinking too hard and simply free your mind and imagination. Puzzles are all around us, time to start solving.