Bits N' Pieces

Ready for some serious word vomit? Cuz its about to be up-chucked all over this post. I don't really have any one thing in particular to blog about today...just a ton of random tidbits. Get excited. First, if per chance you are in the midst of searching for a prom dress, no not wast your time at Carolina Place mall. There isn't anything there. Second, if anyone has Spider-Man 3 (although I wouldn't expect any of you to own it, since it was a pretty horrible movie.) I would really like to borrow it. I haven't seen it since it was in theaters, and I am haunted by a line from the move that I can't recall. Its one of those little one-liners that James Franco as Harry throws in at some point. DRIVING. ME. CRAZY. Third, I have a task for you. Go to your itunes. Pick a super dorky song that you know reasonably well. Play it, and do a random dance. If there are friends available, let them get in on the random dancing spree. I swear it will make you feel like you won the lottery. Trust me. Fourth, there is this awesome website that has these Disney princess inspired dresses (not tacky, just super expensive) that allowed me to have a moment of nostalgia this afternoon. And speaking of Disney, why can't life be like a Disney movie- fantastic hair every day, a prince charming to sweep off your feet, random song outbursts, and singing woodland creatures. That would be point 5 of the word puke. Sixth, you are never to old to dress up like a bunny and go to a movie premier at midnight. Point proven by a group of 50 year old women at the Alice and Wonderland premiere last evening. Seventh, it has been concluded that the "Star Wars" theme music is the official national anthem for nerds everywhere. Just thought I'd inform you of that. Told you it would be all over the place today...

What You Missed

This week at school has been unique for several reasons. But atop the list of reasons is the fact that around 100 Juniors were MIA this week due to a Harvard Model Congress field trip. I know what many of you are wondering- "Why on earth didn't you go with them?" And to that I would reply "The cost my dear, ignorant friend." I'm not gonna lie, I was disappointed to not be going... but I shouldn't have been. Because, boy, have those 100 juniors missed out this week!

- Thanks to them, school was a joke from Wed. to Fri. We literally did nothing of value. I experienced apathy for the very first time. I'm talking zero motivation... It was weird.

- Also thanks to them, Choir got canceled on Thursday. I got up at 7:00 and was at school by 8:00. It was a record.

- They missed out on the CIA marathon we enjoyed in Chemistry. It was epic.

- They missed "story time" in several classes. They'll never know a particular proposal story, which teacher has a mean cussing problem, a super freaky demon story, or about the time that Mr. Henson was practically killed by an enraged Grandpa with a shotgun.

- They also missed the privileges we got- smaller classes (SOO FUN!), no real wait in the lunch line, and no super crowded halls.

- They allowed for several tests/assignments to be postponed. Thanks!

- They missed an epic Q&A with Mrs. Szymborski that wasn't even scheduled. She just loves us THAT much.

- They missed some pretty crucial lunch conversations, like the one today- all about worms! Yummy. And they missed me cramming an entire fruit roll up in my mouth at one time.

- They missed the opportunity to go out tonight and have a blast. Oh man, its gonna be fantastically spontaneous partying, of that I am sure...

And that's not even all. As you can see Harvard peeps, all hell broke lose while you were away. Sorry you missed out on the madness. But I'm sure you had a blast passing bills and sitting in meetings all day. That totally beats MLIA jokes, cinnamon rolls, ordering pizza in class, hearing all about the 6 languages that Mrs. Szymborski speaks, and amazing Friday night plans...or does it? ☺

La La Land

Nope, I haven't died. I've just been so very caught up in a creative whirlwind, I haven't had a chance to blog... Think the Twilight Zone geared towards artistic kids. Thats where I am. And how did I arrive? By way of some killer books, thought provoking movies, and finding amazing undiscovered talents on Itunes these past two weeks. Then theres also the whole "digging deeper into rehersals" with Little Women, and working on a new classical piece in vocal tech. And to answer the question already being pondered, "No. I DON'T have time to be trapped in "Creative Land" at the moment. But here I am- with "Macbeth" and a pink highlighter in one hand, and "The Time Travellers Wife" in the other, while my i-pod plays the best of Radiohead, Lady GaGa, and Corrinne Bailey Rae. In this land, I have witnessed a Broadway musical via television (Rent: Live on Stage), heard heartfelt guitar solos, worked hard at "going organic" in scene work, analyzed soliloquies, seen an impressive rendition of Miss Saigon at CATA (one of my best friends STOLE that show with his stellar vocal chops. Get it Brandon!), and started writing creatively again. I don't know when I will leave this mystical land, where there aren't enough hours in a day to let your mind roam...but hopefully I'll stay a while.

For Your Consideration: The Fifth!

Recent Findings-

Current Accomplishment: Placing in the Shakespeare Recitation Competition yesterday.

Thing That Trumps My Current Accomplishment: Polly placing 3rd. Yeah, I know. She's a beast.

Heathy Snack: Honey drops from EarthFare.

Obsession: The Olympics. I know, I'm such a a dork. But I haven't missed much of the action.

Physical Ailment: I scratched my eye. I didn't even know that was possible, but I managed to do it. I hope none of you experience this anytime soon.

Aggravations: The lack of heat in our first story, and the surplus of tests I have to make up due to missing several days of school thanks to field trips.

Happy Surprises: Snow days!

Quickly approaching events: The opening of Little Women, SPRING BREAK, summer auditions and....prom. I mean really?

Current Fear: Practicing for vocal tech. Yikes.

Recent Movie Enjoyments: "Adam", "The Time Traveler's Wife", "Whip It", "Doubt" (thanks to the snow days!)

Musical Enjoyment: Jason Reeves- Look up his song "Wishing Weed". Trust me. You will not be disappointed.

Things I Want: Tickets to Michael Buble's Concert, and Sutton Foster's Concert!

Things I Don't Want (at all!): That horrible sickness thats going around. Cough, sore throat, gunk in the chest, headaches... sound familiar? Don't give it to me!

Trouble Maker: The application that is called Formspring. Don't follow the crowd and get one.

Change of Plans: My Dad's mssion trip to the Dominican Republic got canceled due to the congestion of airlines involving the Haiti crisis. Keep Haiti in your prayers.

Books I'm About to Start: Macbeth, Princess Forever (Last Princess Diaries...wow. Its the end of an era), and finishing "The Last Song".

What I'm Currently Doing: Procrastinating! Not good! Must Dash! More Later!

Valentine's Tainted

Valentines Day has always been a weird holiday for me. I couldn't tell you why exactly, but its true. Without fail, whenever February 14th rolls around, something traumatic/stressful/just plain strange happens to me. So, it isn't a surprise that Valentines Day isn't my favorite holiday. Well, this year Cupid started "spreading the love" a little early. Let me set the stage for you: We're at school, and its second period. Polly rushed up to me with a gift bag- it was a Valentines present she had bought for me (even though I told her not to do anything! She is just so sweet, and couldn't resist. Have I mentioned that I absolutely adore my kind hearted twin?) and since Pete had helped in the buying/hiding of it, she had decided to give it to me at school a few days early. She handed me the bag, and left me to read the card she had so thoughtfully written. And oh, how sentimental it was...It brought me to tears. Placing the card aside, I opened the bag, and saw a gleaming pink Juicy Couture jewelry box. Excitedly, I popped open the lid....only to find the jewelry box empty. Puzzled, I called polly over, only to hear her utter the words "thats not possible." under her breath. The look on her face said it all. Sometime between first and second period, someone stole the necklace that had once occupied the box. Literally, it was like a scene out of a movie. Of course, Polly and I went to the office, and I tearfully filed a report. The school responded by searching the entire Act 1 teams purses/bags in hopes of finding it, but no luck. I am literally heartbroken over this...Because whoever it was that took it had to have seen the card (it wasn't in an envelope), and known that this was special. And yet, in their selfishness, they stole the necklace anyway. My mind can't even comprehend that kind of heartlessness. Its really sick....and just a little background on the gift- It had great sentimental value, and was picked out with special care by my sister. It was going to be an heirloom. And now, someone took not only the gift, but the joy it would bring for years to come. Sad, right? But on the other hand, as Polly so aptly said in her card, her hope in giving the gift was that I would have a "love-filled holiday", and that has most certainly happened. I have received several calls regarding the incident, had people praying over this ordeal, as well as people trying to help find the gift. Its nice to know that people care. I would love to say that the outpouring of compassion among my friends has made up for the stealing, but that would be a lie. I'm still devastated.

... And if there's any chance that whoever took it may be reading- I don't care who you are, I just want the necklace back. Please. It means more to me than it ever would to you. Don't spoil an act of kindness like this. So, just put it in my locker, or mail it to me...I don't even need to know who you are.

So anyway, I think this Valentines Day takes the cake for the weirdness factor. And the best part is, it's not even February 14th yet. Hope nothing else happens.

Thats Not My Name!

Today was an eventful day- I took the ACT for the first time today! Hooray! Getting up at 6:30 on a Saturday! Hooray! Not eating anything until 1 in the afternoon! Hooray! No breaks in between test sections! Hooray! But really, it wasn't THAT bad....except.... A little word of advice- If you ever have kids, or know people that have kids, or have a pet that you must name at any point in your life, NEVER let them go by their middle name. It is way much more trouble than its worth. Take me for instance- Every first day of school, time you sign up for something, or take a standardized test ( like today) I become "Kimberly Hilton". Its pretty inconvenient/embarrassing to have to raise your hand and correct a teacher on the first day. Talk about a killer first impression. On the ACT, I had to sign my name about 7 times, and every time the Ting Tings song- "That's Not My Name" started going on replay in the brain. And its not that I dislike Kimberly (I actually like it MORE than Claire), its just a bit confusing. Remember in grade school when kids used to go around and ask about middle names. Yeah. Well, whenever I asked, There was always some smartie pants kid that would say "Wait, so your name is Claire Claire Hilton" , totally missing the "go by the middle name concept altogether. So, for my sake, and your future children's sanity, think twice before letting them go by their middle name. Ok I'm done with the little rant now...

Our Amazingly Brilliant Plan!

Maddison and I will be millionaires by the time we're twenty. Why? Oh let me just tell you! We're starting a business- A "Bible Verse Jingle" business. After memorizing verse after verse for Bible classes over the years, we came to the conclusion that it is much easier to memorize if the words are put to music. Take John 1:14 for example. There is not a single Junior in Mr. Henson's B-3 Bible class that doesn't know that verse by heart thanks to a little ditty I made up. And as we sat in Act 1 this morning, it was Maddison's bright idea to turn our memorizing trick into a business. Just think- little videos in children's ministries at churches, sermon illustrations via song, and a hit cd on itunes all including originally written tunes that quote verses. Maddison would take care of the business side, and I (with the enlisted help of Will Green) would write the catchy songs. We would take America by storm!!! This is up there with our ideas for a Chase Jones Musical, and going to college at NYU together. Just goes to show that we get some serious work done in Act 1.