Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Future

You could think that you have nothing to tell someone; nothing interesting or particularly exciting. At least, you could feel that way until you really begin to speak. It happens to me so often and so quickly that I can begin to jumble my sentences, or completely forget what I had been originally trying to say until we are on a completely new topic. My grandmother will sometimes begin talking about something else before she has even finished her current sentence. Some stories just have so many side notes that are necessary to the full effect of the story. It's understandable then that writers make many copies and drafts before they are happy with the result. When I write a story about a personal subject, I try so hard to put the right amount of depth so that they live in the story as they do in reality.

As I write this on a piece of notebook paper (to be later copied in my blog), I am essentially procrastinating. I am in the gap between handing in my current assignment and starting another, so I'm trying to stretch out the time. Oh, sure I do my work and keep up with the majority of the class. Don't worry about me, my grades are fine. Plus, this class is necessary for me to graduate properly.

Speaking of graduation, I have been thinking a bit about my future outside of high school, once I'm done. I have mentioned before that my current career desire is within the culinary profession.

A few days ago, two women came into my French class to give a presentation. One woman was tall with blonde hair and an American accent. The other woman was shorter with dark hair and had on particularly-distinguished heels. Her accent sounded Hispanic. Their presentation was about letting us know about either hosting an exchange student or becoming one ourselves. There is an option of either taking the entire year off, or just a summer. As they filled us in on the details, I began to think that this might be something of my interest. I enjoy speaking French and would love the ability to speak fluently, and I want to be a chef. If I were to travel to France between the time I graduate high school and go off to college, I could take a few cooking classes directly in France! It would be a wonderful opportunity. The program offers help to diminish the language barrier with Rosetta Stone and one-on-one classes. I could combine three goals in one!

1) Learn French fluently
2) Take culinary classes -- great for my résumé
3) Go to France!

My mom had talked about taking me to France when I was older. We would travel to different places together. Unfortunately, now that Mom's dead, my grandmother (her mom) has taken it upon herself to take me. Sure, I love her and all, she is just nothing like Mom. Thy never even looked that much alike. I just don't think I could enjoy myself nearly as much. I've been lightly thinking of ways that I could perhaps go with someone that I would get the best possible experience being with. I could go with one of my friends. Maybe someone will even want to do that program with me. I'm not even sure who I will keep in touch with after high school. With cell phones and texting now, it's a lot easier to keep in touch. I had been thinking of perhaps living in a place like Rhode Island or Virginia. Those places are really nice and more country than city, which I like.

It is nice thinking about the possibilities in the future.

Monday, April 9, 2012

The Appreciating Cat

Sitting at the desk while typing on the computer, the soft clicking rhythmic, until a mistake is made and thus it starts over again. A cat watches lazily, not fully understanding the motions that are being made but yet appreciates the determination of the one creating the words on the page. He sits, enjoying the warmth that they always share when they are together. He loves her, and she loves him just as much. Even though they can sometimes get on each other's nerves, for instance, when he starts to claw at the door to be let in or out, but that does not diminish the appreciation. He can always make her smile, and she knows just where to pet him to keep him around just a little bit longer.

Hey everyone! Did you enjoy my little story at the top? I came up with it while I was sitting on my computer and my cat Simon jumped up on my lap. Clever, huh?

In my English class, we have just started the term, which means that I will no longer have civics as a class. Not for the rest of my high school years, unless for some reason I failed. All last week, we were given packets that contained a story and in turn we would have to write a short story ourselves, using the different themes that were given. The first one I received had me write a story in a folktale kind of style, while the second one was a bit more difficult. It was a science fiction piece. They were both extremely fun to write, and even though the endings on them were a bit rushed, I think they made charming stories.

Monday, March 5, 2012

She Lives

For my Reading/Writing Workshop class, we had a substitute teacher. Now, in high school, when it comes to substitutes, there is no special treatment. The teachers always make sure to write very specific notes about what the class should do. I have found that they will even put down which people to watch out for and keep a close eye on. In a computer tech class I had in 7th grade, our substitute teacher was especially warned about our class in general. I know this because she straight out told us so.

So in this class, we were assigned to write a two paragraph journal entry on what we thought our lives in ten years would be like, which means that the year would be 2022.
After we wrote this entry, we were to write any style poem we felt that expressed these ideas that we had written down. At first, I had no idea how I would put so many ideas into a poem without making it pages long. Because the paper said we could use any style of poem we wanted, I decided to do a free verse poem that contained four lines in each stanza. Somehow, I managed to write and finish a poem during class and I think what I came up with is pretty substantial. Wanna see it? OK!

She Lives

The girl of 25...
Not much of a girl anymore;
She dreamed herself a future
That came to be her own.

The girl attained her dream job
As a chef in a small cafe.
The money flowed freely to her,
She easily paid off her loans.

So what does she do in her spare time?
Why, she lives, of course.
Dancing, drawing, horse-back riding:
You name it, she's tried it before.

Her aura is one of happiness
Everyone senses it when she speaks.
"How different she is," they would all say,
"From just 10 years ago."

There is but one thing she misses
That she can never have back;
The familiarity of those around her whom
she's grown up with since she was four.

She continues on, lively as ever
Letting nothing bring her down.
For what does she do with all her time?
Why, she lives, or course.

So what do y'all think? I made it in a little under 90 minutes, so I can't know for sure if it's my best work. In the past, I have created poems in a few minutes, and that was with a lot of inspiration. Perhaps it's coming back for me. That'd be nice!

Oh, the sun'll come out!
Tomorrow!!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Up and Away

I have left my journal at home, which probably wasn't the best idea. Writing things out helps me sort my numerous and jumbled thoughts. This day is very nice. I am sitting at my grandparent's computer with a cat as a lower back pillow. It's okay, she doesn't mind.

The weather warms up with each passing day, and yet I have heard that the window for snow has not yet passed. How is that possible? It's February. We're done with the snow, bring on Spring. I forget, do you capitalize the seasons? You should, they're joyous enough to deserve their own attention. However, I do not think the seasons are proper nouns, so I guess I did that wrong. Ah well, I'm too far along to go back and change it.

I've been reading some great books lately. Most recently, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I'm already on the third book, and I started the first one only a couple of weeks ago. With my lightened schedule, I have a lot more time to myself, for any of those that wish to hangout. I spend a lot of time either reading or wandering around on my way home. By wandering around, I just mean that I walk slower than usual and take a look at everything. My most joyous time of the day is my walk home. Not because it's the end of the day and I no longer have to pay attention to anyone, but because that is the time that I can take out my iPod touch and listen to my music.

Music is a way into the soul. There are so many styles and interpretations, it's endless. There is no way that someone can say that they do not like music. It simply cannot be done. Music, as I have heard it described, is poetry for the hearing sense. Even using the word "poetry" is a broad sense of the meaning.
I see poetry as something that makes a person's heart sing. They have to hear more, it makes them content. We are all poets, then. We can all see into the greater depths of ourselves and unleash something inspirational. It's a release. I have not found my definite poetry, for there are many things I love and enjoy, music being among them. There's art, nature, theater, and so much more. That's what makes it the hardest.

While there are many things I can take pride in and may sooth me for time being, they are not permenant, and sooner or later I am brought back to the restlessness of trying to find something to do. Nothing seems to completely comfort me, telling me that everything WILL be alright. The only proof I have is within my own mind. A mind that can create stories to the point of believing that they actually happened. It's strange, the thoughts that bubble to the surface when one blogs. Not a lot of it even seems to make sense to me at the moment, just words strung into a sentence that sounds good.

Anyway, back to the book. I love it. It's a great read and the movie will be coming out soon. I heard that the tickets are already being sold. How, then, am I supposed to see it when I want to unless I don't buy tickets right away? I would love to see how the director made the book appear on screen. I imagine a few details may have been changed, most likely, those of the physical appearances. That is alright, though, they will do what they can with what they have. Making a movie every bit as detailed as the book would make the movie very long, so I can understand if they were to leave some stuff out. As long as the end result is satisfactory, I am..satisfied. So the book is highly recommended by yours truly!

In case you're wondering, the title is random.

Monday, February 20, 2012

February Vacation 2012!

Hello Fellow Readers,
How art thou this February vacation? This time last year, I was off on vacation in Orlando, Florida. I remember bits and pieces of the vacation. I remember it was a nice chance to get away from the everyday life of Hudson. But oh my gosh, I would never want to be in Florida over the summer, I hear it's insufferable! (that means bad, right?)
This year, however, will be spent relaxing between my house and my grandparents house. I can feel the upcoming spring season in the air, even though there is still a chilly breeze that forces me to wear my winter jacket.

My new semester at school is taking a while to adjust to. Even though physics and geometry were difficult classes, especially together, I still miss the familiarity of seeing my teachers every day. Now, my only similar classes are english/civics and band. My lunch is even at a different time. They expect me to eat a meal at 10:30 A.M.!

There are a lot of flaws in the school's schedule system. For example, this semester has been like starting the school year over completely. Plus, my physics state assessment (or MCAS) doesn't even start until June, even though I've completed the class. That, my dear friends, is why they have decided to change the schedule. I hear they are planning on a 7 day rotation with 5 blocks each day. The classes are 70 minutes long, rather than our standard 90 minutes. The main downfall I see is that we will have to put up with a different lunch every day.
There was a student survey so we could put in our input. But most of us didn't even know about it! There was no mention of it in our daily morning announcements, and the teachers didn't tell us anything either. Perhaps it really was there all along and I just failed to notice it. That sounds like something I'd do.

For once, I had a day of school that really felt like a party. In my French class, we actually did have a party, which I prepared my famous cheesecakes for. In my last block of the day, Band, we watched This Is It, that Michael Jackson movie. I only had to work in my classes before lunch (although we did have to speak French to ask for food, or we didn't get any).

I can't wait until a friend asks me to hang out, because frankly, I'm getting a little bored not hearing from anybody. At least text me! Yes, that means you. You know who you are, you friend of mine. I would just like a conversation, it doesn't even have to include future plans to hang out. I'm gonna be at my grandparents until at least Thursday anyway.

Until then,
Au revoir, mon amies! a plus tard, a demain et tout a l'heur et au revoir (ha, now you have that song stuck in your head).

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Not This Week

Christmas has gone and past. I know it has been quite a while since my last entry, but that is not uncommon for me to pick up on something weeks after beginning it. I like to be spontaneous and do whatever feels right in the moment. Not that it works out that way a lot of times.

With school and everything in my life, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room to move around and just be me. I read in this book that man has somewhat forgotten that we used to do things for the pleasure of doing them. We have since grown to do things because we think they will be useful and better for survival, or God forbid, we should become extinct. So you see, we must get back into the balance of doing things for ourselves. Not necessarily one on one, you against the world, but doing things for the purpose of having fun, or being proud.

I can see that this week is going to be difficult for me. I didn't think that I would be affected so much, but even though it has been a whole year, I do not think I am going to take it well. January 7 this year falls on this upcoming Saturday (which reminds me, Happy New Year!). At least I will be home for the event. Maybe I will even sleep through it if I'm lucky. I cannot bring myself to relinquish the past and move on. I am once again weary with the idea of even getting up in the morning, a dilemma I faced not so long ago. I do not like these morbid entries, but sometimes they must be done, to get it out into the open and to release it from myself.

I do not know how many of my invites actually even bother reading these. I don't really care. I enjoy the prospect of writing for a bigger audience. In a journal, it's all private unless you give it to someone. Even then, they aren't interested unless each entry contains a clue to this great unknown treasure. Still, it would be nice to get a head count so I know this isn't a complete waste.

I could always get rid of the privacy setting and let the whole world view this, but that does not sit with me well. My thoughts are my own and for the few people that I have chosen to share them with.

I wish I could bring a happier delight into these one sided conversations, but alas, I do not think I can. Not this week.

Perhaps next week I can shed a little light on the subject..

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving has ended. The preparations for Christmas are under way. The radio began its jingles long ago, though there certainly is no sign of snow. With the warm weather we have been receiving, it doesn't seem likely that snow will enter our realms of Massachusetts any time soon. I've recently gotten into this television series on Netflix. My friend's dad showed it to her, thus bringing it to me. After 10 episodes, the show was cancelled, but so far I can't see why. The show is known as The Nine Lives of Chloe King. I shan't give anything away, since it is really that interesting. You can find it on Netflix or Hulu.  For some reason, my Netflix connection is wavering, and doesn't give us a very good quality, which is a shame since they don't ever air commercials. 

Homework is surprisingly manageable. It was only a few weeks ago that I was feeling pressured to do my homework and get a solid grade on it, or even just to come up with something that would make enough sense. Now, I am proudly procrastinating and feeling relaxed about it. It's OK, I know that I will get the work done and well. In my English class, we have been reading this book called A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I love it even though I am just beginning chapter 5. It's got to do with a boys' boarding school during the time of WWII. They live in New Hampshire, so they are not in the middle of all the war action. You should really check it out. I enjoy the way my teacher asks us to analyze a few of the scenes, since I usually have a lot of ideas behind them, but I think she goes a bit too far with the meanings behind things. If two boys went swimming, and one of them almost drowned, she would ask us what the water represents. Could it at all be possible that these boys just wanted to go for a swim? While we are allowed to voice our thoughts, I do not feel that they are always appreciated.

It would feel as though I have great revelations when I am writing. Sometimes my fingers just want to type certain words and I feel too lazy to press the backspace button, so I just let it be, and other times I just feel so clear minded and free to say whatever comes to mind. My own little journal that you are all welcome to read. I never said that this would be a daily thing, since I knew that I would not be able to uphold that responsibility. I did hear that the homework level stays pretty much the same, which was a relief to discover. 

Either tomorrow, Wednesday, or on December 6 (the morning announcements versus the school website are very contradictory) there is a sign language club, specifically to learn sign language. I believe I wrote an article on how sign language would be something that I would love to learn, and now I can finally begin! Whether or not any of my friends join, I'm going to do it. It is too great an opportunity to pass up! 

It's articles like these that hold too much information for a title to be added. My mind does not hold thoughts within categories, so I don't think my writing should be too organized. I do congratulate you on reading this far, you must be very interested, or very bored, either way, it's great!