loonylexie

I'm probably just making this into something it's not.
The notions and ideas of things are just so often better than reality. Must remember that.


In other news, on Saturday I start volunteering at the Sanctuary Art Center! Basically I get to make art (using any of the supplies at the center) with homeless and at-risk youth for three hours every week. They have a fully stocked art room, kiln, music room, screen-printing room... I can't wait! I nearly started drooling yesterday when they showed me around the facility. And everyone is incredibly nice- I hope the kids are easy to get along with. I'm sure I'll learn tons from them.

My roommates are ridiculous. I'm pretty sure we just spent the last half hour slamming doors in each other's faces and reminiscing over the oh-so-responsible decisions of our not-so-distant pasts. And stealing ice cream from each other.

So Halloween this year: Marie and I are going to be Velma Kelley and Roxie Hart from Chicago! My brother got me a blonde wig for my birthday (I know- he's crazy). And Marie's from Chicago, and we know the words to pretty much every song. Perfect! Now all we need are some fake guns and fishnets...

Urban Planning gets me really... upset sometimes. I'm reading about the gated community and suburbia for class, and it makes me want to re-plan how people settle in general. The whole "running away from the inner city" to escape the impoverished and minorities makes me SICK... I want people to get over their problems, and instead of running to the suburbs, to take ownership of the urban problems and help solve them. GAH I could rant on this for ages. Good thing I have to write a paper about it...

I've just made a sort-of plan for myself. To prove (not sure to who, yet) that living in the city can be just as "fulfilling" as living in the suburbs, I'm going to live in an urban environment for life. I'll raise a family (yet still have a CAREER- re-developing the inner-city to design mixed-income housing projects, public buildings, or something) in the city, and prove that the community experience in the URBS is unattainable in the isolated, hostile environment of suburbia (not to mention being SO much better for the environment...). I HATE America's obsession with "bigger is better" and living in gated communities to escape the (media-exaggerated) dangers of urban life. People can't shelter themselves from what's really there, in the cities. How else will they develop compassion for the general human race- if the only people in one's surroundings are economically, socially, and culturally identical to themselves?

... So, do I major in CEP (Community, Environment, and Planning), or Architecture? Or try to double? I never thought I'd care about something this much, really.

HOW on EARTH did my dear father contribute to the development of this suburban sprawl? I grew up with a dad who's position was "director of advanced planning" for Summerlin. Good Heavens.

Ha. So that's been invading my thoughts today. That and my exceedingly bizarre weekend. So many of my friends from the dorms last year have houses now- loooots of parties, weird costumes, and fun times, I guess.

I am totally addicted to swing dancing. This weekend has been the most rug-cutting extravaganza yet! Last night was the usual Friday Aruba- but Janet and I spent the night at Jessica's afterwards. So, basically, that meant that we could stay dancing until it ended. We stayed till about 1:30 in the morning or so. Mark (teacher) told me that I'm getting way better!! He also asked if I'd been practicing, in an "I'm rather impressed" sort of way. Heehee I'm giddy with this jitterbug obsession! After the Aruba ended we went to Denny's with the usual gang that Jessica goes with almost every Friday. What a hoot. We're kind of becoming friends with all of these other swing dancing fanatics of all sorts. It's like a new group of crazy friends that we're getting to know well now. Yay warm and fuzzies.

"Holocaust ----> Hologram.... How could changing one syllable of a word change it from *terribly frowny face* to *OMG EXCITEMENT!!!*??" -Boozer.

So, we got to Jessica's around 4 AM and slept for about four hours.

And today was the aerials workshop!!! Four hours with two AMAZING BRITISH SWING DANCERS teaching us how to do crazy backflips and jump things and twisty things and all sorts of fabulous stuff. I am rather sore now and have a few bruisy bits but am quite alright and rather happy. I can't believe we learned how to do some aerials! I partnered with Judd, which was very good because he's 6'4" and I'm tall so it worked nicely. The last move we did (I can't really explain it- but it involved jumping into arms, swinging legs around the back, being upside-down between his calves, and neck-holding) went really well and so I was all giddy. Swing dancing just has that effect on me. woooooo hoooo I am not a failure!!!!

Anthony and Erik make me laugh. They're all distant at first and then as soon as you talk to them they're insane and silly.

And tomorrow more loverly dancing in the evening and then Anna's bday party. Life is one big party at the moment. <33333

I hope swing in Seattle is half as jive'n!


ANYways. Enough of this giddy ranting feindishness.


Ohh mais oui- I start lifeguarding again at the Y on Monday. However, I MIGHT be working at the Red Rock if they ever call me back... I've had two interviews that both went well and apparently my application is now in the "hiring department" and they'll call me as soon as they have an opening (although the website told me they had three openings and they're opening another portion of the pool in a few weeks or something). ARGH nothing seems to get accomplished in those huge casinos.

SEVEN days of high school left. Plus senior check out day. And then it's Grad Nite, graduation, summer, college, life...



What the hell am I going to major in?

change. Dad's in the hospital. I'm worried.

*slaps self on hand for not updating in ages*

I'm going to the Univeristy of Washington!! I LOVED it when we visited, and it ended up being basically my only good choice (except for Northeastern, but blech.) I am REALLY excited and everything I hear about it makes me want to go more. I really think it's the perfect choice for me! :D

Hmmm, what else has happened during my hiatus/bout of laziness? AP studying, more swing dancing, star-nosed-mole infiltration...

Prom was on Saturday! I actually had fun! We ended up going with Marissa and Sarah and everyone in their stretch Hummer (!!!) and we had a great time. Gwen decided to come with us about an hour before we were going to leave from the restaurant.


I'm beginning to think that I'm going to retire the livejournal business. In Dana's words, "It's run its course." (I've been writing in this thing since 8th/9th grade or something!) I'd say it's time to mooove on.

Shame that I got a paid account last August and it's not run out yet. Ah well.

Rejected from Brown and Berkeley.

But you know what? I'm OK with that. It's actually kind of relieving, because for the past few weeks I've been feeling that I didn't really want to go to either of them. If I got in to Brown or Berkeley, I probably would have gone for all the wrong reasons- the reputation and name. I'm really excited to go somewhere that's NOT my brother's school and make my own life somewhere new. Seattle or Boston- right now I'm leaning towards Seattle, but I don't know very much about Northeastern. Plus, I'm still waiting to hear from UCLA and Northwestern. Both long shots, but you never know.

Let's just hope I fall in love with UW's campus when we go up there on Sunday. Then, if it's my choice, I'll be excited and satisfied. Everything I've seen and heard about it so far seems really good, but I'll just have to see it in person.

Tomorrow I find out from Berkeley and Brown. I had a mental breakdown on the bus today thinking about it- I AM SO NERVOUS.

UW would be really cool, though, and if I don't get in anywhere else I don't want to feel like I'm "settling" for UW. I reserved my spot for housing there the other day, and it looks good. Gwen and I are going up to Seattle this weekend to see the school and meet people, which I'm very excited for. Gwen's probably not going there, though- she got a HUGE scholarship from BU! Super cool.


Language Bowl last Saturday was great! We got first place and I answered almost all of my questions right! (I missed the hardest one- translating "She worked in Paris for two years when she met her fiancee." I was SO CLOSE too!)

And on Saturday I found a dress for prom- for $27.80. Yes. Fabulous. It's knee-length, flowy, with a halter top and little pleats in the skirt. And it's greeeeen! Not really "prommy," but that's definitely a plus.


*bites nails waiting for tomorrow afternoon/evening!!*

The Europe journal!!!!!

38 pages strong!

( France, Spain, Morocco, and FLAM. )

=D

So far, I've been accepted at all four universities that I've heard from!!!
Univ. of Washington, Univ. of Oregon, UC Santa Cruz, and Northeastern! (I heard from Northeastern tonight, and I also got a $20,000 merit scholarship!!! Yay!) Sooo I'm not sure of anything yet - Berkeley and Brown decisions go online next Thursday and I haven't heard from UCLA or Northwestern yet either. *bites fingernails*

But it's good to know four schools want me! (even though three of them were safeties...) *grin*

We were in Berkeley/Oakland/SF this past weekend with family and I hung out with David at his apartment and met his frat brothers. ooooooh fun college kids. He's running for senate at UCB! Vote for David!! yeeeeah!

I am THIS CLOSE to being finished with my painting. Rejoice and Hallelujah! All that needs finishing is the table!

And Saturday is the dear Language Bowl thing. It's like varsity quiz for French students. WHY did I sign myself up for this?? I really am awful at thinking of responses to random questions and memorizing things about culture.

Poor egg. It never had a chance. What a story:

Our next assignment for art is on Surrealism. Mrs. Mabel gave us all eggshells (we need to have a hand holding an eggshell somewhere in our piece) and told us to "take care of them." I thought this meant to make sure it was safe, don't break it, etc. Apparently she meant GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE.

Silly me, I put it in my art locker for safekeeping (the lockers don't have locks- they're in a separate room usually locked when other classes are there and don't have valuables in them or anything.) I put my eggshell in a nice nook of my locker at the end of the day, unthinkingly.

The next day (yesterday), I walk into the locker room to get my sketchbook and pencils. I notice out of the corner of my eye the suspicious puddles of red paint splatter hither and thither. Not thinking much of it, I approached my locker. Now, there is a noticeable concentration of red paint in the vicinity of my locker. OH. There are bits of eggshell in the red paint, dripping like blood. On the handle bit of my locker is a "bloody" handprint. I apprehensively open the locker to find- a pile of crumpled eggshell where my whole one had been the day before, a large trickle of blood below it, continuing onto the locker below down to the floor, where a red painted heart and the initials K.M. reside next to a splotch of red. K.M. Kelly Mabel- my teacher.

APPARENTLY she went through all the lockers after school, stealing eggs for ransom and destroying random ones for no good reason. It sounds weird and crazy, but the actual reason is pretty cool. The Surrealists were reacting to destruction that takes place for no benefit; no value to the world or positive outcome. So basically Mrs. Mabel destroyed our eggs because that's what happens in the world, on a larger scale.

( evidence of the tragedy )


Janet's learning how to be a lead in swing. Today before school we danced a bit! She's actually a better lead than lots of the guys in the beginning class. Hopefully at prom we'll be able to dance and be fabulous! =D

March 29 I find out my admission decisions from Brown and Berkeley. I'd be over the moon if I just got into one of them. But I won't be terribly sad if I don't get into either.

Next weekend we're going up to the lovely Bay Area for my grandma's 85th birthday! I get to see my dear brother and miss a day of school! Yeah!

Wuthering Heights- I am over it. It's not that grand, but not terrible. The essay writing might be kind of fun, though...

progress shot. I'm actually getting SOMEWHERE. It is taking FOREVER.

And the picture is all foggy and gross because I don't know how to photograph oil paintings very well. Argh.

INVISIBLE CHILDREN was a SMASHING sucess!!! About 100 people came to the screening and we raised $500 for the Schools for Schools deal. The Invisible Children people were really nice and seemed impressed with our school and the enthusiasm of the students. They were about 45 minutes late though, because their van broke down allllllll the way at Palo.

I am so proud of the genuine concern shown by the audience and eagerness to help. People really CAN be good! *hugs the world*


I feel so accomplished. $500 can really make a difference- think of all the textbooks or clothes it can buy! And it's just a start- next month we're doing Flowers for Peace and then later we're going to try to get a Displacement (Global Night Commute) here in Vegas.

*very large grin*


Oh! And I got into the University of Oregon. Kind of funny- they called on Sunday asking if I had any questions about tuition or housing. I said that I didn't even know if I got in yet. And they said, "Oh, well, you did!" Hehe. But I'm not going there- I'd go to UW instead. Still waiting on decisions from everyone else though. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I got my first college acceptance letter today from the University of Washington!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO relieved. As Gwen puts it, I know that I shall not be a vagabond.

And then we watched The Red Violin. What an incredible movie!

AND Mr. Zambon gave us tickets to hear Barack Obama speak on Sunday!! I am SO excited. Then swing dancing, then no school on Monday.

HAPPY.

I am a certified idiot. I got a letter from Brown in the mail yesterday- apparently I forgot to send them my ACT scores. It's not detrimental, though. They just said to send it now, but I still feel stupid for forgetting them in the first place. Hopefully it doesn't kill my already miniscule chances.

Swing was cancelled on Super Bowl Sunday- we drove ALL the way down and then no one was there. Quelle domage! This week was great fun, though. There's a new guy in the class who's GORGEOUS. Like, Italian model gorgeous. I just like to look at him. Unfortunately for me, Scott (one of the guys in the class who is rather awkward and slightly creepy and like 23) asked me for my phone number. >_< However, Mark, the teacher, danced with me all crazy and I could actually (sort of) keep up! Yeah! Anyway, I want to convince my friends to go to social dancing on Friday. I'm not sure we're ready for that, but we could just go and find out what it's like...

David might be a "hasher" for a sorority. He'd basically cook and clean for them and in return get FREE room and board. Sounds like a good deal, but his current roomate doesn't want him to because he'd have to either come with or find a new roomate. Hmm.

So, for the graduation party (in a long time, but we've been planning already), I was thinking 1930s-40s diner fabulousness with milkshakes and hamburgers and possibly swing dancing. Like the diner scene in Reefer Madness, perhaps.

I keep having this awful looming feeling that I've forgotten something important. I keep checking my planner obsessively and counting homework assignments on my fingers. It's probably not healthy.

Today we made scones for the AP study session. They are delicious and I had to restrain from eating them all.

No college news yet. It's aggravating.

AP tshirts are a go! They're only going to be $8!!!!! And Mrs. Hampton called me today about them I felt sooo cool. =P

Inivislbe Children people are def. coming on Feb 22nd! I am SO EXCITED. We made flags for it today and we're having an art show and everything!

Open Canvas crashes ALL THE TIME. I get half way done with a semi-good drawing, try to save it and it says "Bad command or data" and then dies. So I take a screenshot, and that's all I have of the art. Time wasted and poop.

Running with Scissors the movie was not NEARLY as funny as the book. Films never are. =(

Aaaand I'm definitely returning to the Y to lifeguard again this summer. Grand. Ah well, at least I know I'll be making a lot of money.

Gwen wants some lederhosen.


And I have a 98.1% in Hampton's class! Rejoice!

Le corbeau et le Renard is a wonderful thing to memorize in French. If you recite it really fast, it sounds like you know what you're talking about! We performed it in class, and then the yearbook photographer guy came into our classroom and Madame insisted we perform an encore for pictures. So it is very likely that there will be a picture of me looking rather confused as le renard (I forgot my lines when the camera was in my face.)

Janet's play is at the end of this month! I can't believe it's really happening. I'm going to film it so her family can see it and everything. Janet's having a mental breakdown though, about rehearsals and sets and everything. I don't blame her- directing your first play (or any play) must be insane.

Not looking forward to finals at all. WHY can't they just forget about them and let us go on with our lives??

Ah, 2007. The year of change. Graduation, college, and growing up. We began the new year well: I had a fantastic time at Marissa's New Year's party singing showtunes and hot tubbing and dancing to the Beatles.

Mexico was strange- we were staying at this goregous resort, but then the people who actually live in the country surrounding the resorts are dirt-poor. And the workers of the hotel don't get payed enough. Nobody really realizes what's really going on outside of their comfortable hotels.

Alas, I still had a lot of fun. We went ATV-ing (Oma too!) and snorkeling. We went to Chi-Chen Itza, the Mayan ruins and swam in water-hole things. We were a group of 22- Us, our cousins, and their family friends (who ironically have the same last name as our cousins but a different pronunciation.) There were like 10 of us between the ages of 16 and 22, so we all hung out and had fun. I had a lot of alcohol. David was accused of cradle-robbing.

I am SO close to being done with the apps. Only the portfolios and artist statements for UCLA and Northeastern left!

And there is finally going to be a new Grey's Anatomy next week! It has been far too long.

Back from Mexico! More on that tomorrow or eventually. Janet's picking me up very soon for New Year's.

I hope everyone's holidays were wonderful and you all have a great New Year's!


I was going to do a like- 2006 overview or something, but there is no time.


AAAAANDDDD...

I FINISHED MY BROWN APP!!! Competely. I'm REALLY pleased with the essay. After DAYS of work, it finally came together and sounds good. I only wish I had a chance to send THAT one in to UCs and UW. Oh, well. Brown BETTER love it.

Portfolio day was good, educational, and slightly depressing. I found out that UCLA only accepted 48 students last year for 45 spots. 45. I'm not sure how many applied, but that's insane. I'm really nervous about that now. They looked at my portfolio, though, and basically picked out the five pieces that I should use for their application.
They weren't the ones I expected them to pick at all- They chose:
Never Again (OK, I kind of thought they would pick that one)
Omphaloskepsis (toootally suprised by that- I did this peice so fast and I think it stinks.)
Self Portrait Painting
Ignorance is Bliss (I like this piece, but I think some newer ones are better.)
And then a contour line drawing in marker of the inside of my closet that I never uploaded online because it was just an exercise. It's okay, but they liked it. They said that it is an observational drawing, but shows a little more backstory and personality because it's my clothes instead of a bowl of fruit. *shrug*

Some reasoning behind their decisions were that some images don't project well- when they review your portfolio they project your images onto a HUGE auditorium wall. That's why they didn't pick the underwater peice, because the face isn't that detailed and would look weird if it was so big. They like pieces that raise questions, hence their choice of "Omphaloskepsis" and "Ignorance is Bliss." They didn't pick the Renaisssance sleeping reader one because it's more of an answer to a question.

Then I talked to SCAD. They're always super-friendly and super-nice, but never tell you anything you need to improve on. She basically said that she loved every piece and blah blah blah and stuff. Of course it was really flattering, but it kind of seems like SCAD and a lot of the art schools there are trying to fill seats.

All in all, portolio day helped me decide that I DEFINITELY want to go to a University instead of an art school, at least at first. Before I thought that getting a degree in Illustration or another craft at an art school would be more marketable and a better value, but now I find that having a Bachelor's in a broad spectrum of art helps you mold more to the demand of the market. Plus, I may decide that I don't want to go into art. University seems like a better education for my money, since art schools are SO SO SO expensive.

But now I'm afraid that I'm not applying to enough universities with good art programs... There's UCLA, Berkeley which has an OK art program, but not a really good one), UCSD (pretty good), UCSC (kind of crap school but their art program is good), UW (pretty good), Brown (also pretty good, but it's BROWN, so it's fab), Wustl (good art program but it's in St. Louis =/), and Northeastern (seems pretty good, but I don't know too much about it.)

And now to shut up with the college hogwash becuase it's really really tedious.


Only one more week of school before the holidays! One more act of Hamlet to read and several sections of Calculus to do (is he collecting that before the break??). And... We're going to Mexico for Christmas (!!!! excitement!) with my mom's family (all of us jews), and I am determind not to worry about college stuff while I'm basking in the Yucatan sunshine.

Can't. Concentrate. On. Hampton. Essay. *headdesk*

( but I did finish-ish my painting. )

Ok, back to 1984...