I feel like so much happened in these episodes that I don't even know where to start. I really loved this season. I feel like all of the episodes were really good.
Lily and Marshall had their baby! I was definitely really excited for that. I can't believe that they made the baby's middle name "Wait for it" (and I have no idea how they spell it as one name). I'm interested in seeing how the next season goes now that they have a baby.
I knew about them showing Barney's wedding and Robin being the bride, so that didn't come as a surprise for me. I'm really interested in seeing how it gets to there though. I want them together so badly, but I do really like Quinn. I feel as if their break up is going to be really sad.
I almost forgot that Robin and Kevin actually broke up in these episodes. That feels like a long time ago. That was really sad though. I was crying watching that episode.
I loved the episode where they talk about rewatching the original Star Wars trilogy every three years. I also think that's a brilliant idea, and I'm tempted to do it. I really love all of the Star Wars references that pop up every so often in How I Met Your Mother. I was also a bit surprised that they showed Ted with a baby in three years. I know the mother shows up next season but that still seems pretty quick.
I'm hoping to get through season eight before season nine airs, but we'll see if I actually manage that. It would be really nice to actually catch up!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Woes of No Wifi
This post is being typed on my phone, so I'm sorry for any mistakes. It's a bit difficult to type long posts on this touch screen, especially with autocorrect.
We're in Carrollton, Kentucky for the weekend for my cousin's wedding, and the wifi at the hotel is horrible. I have to use 3G on my phone, so let's hope I don't use up too much data on this trip!
So far I haven't really done much other than sit out by the po with some of my family for a little bit. The wedding is later today though, so we'll probably start getting ready in just a couple of hours.
It's frustrating not being able to use my laptop though. What would take me just a couple of minutes in there takes me forever to do on my phone. I'm making it work though, and I'll be home tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't take long for me to get caught up with everything.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
It Was Far Too Early For That
I had quite the morning. I woke up to a text from my friend Ji, who informed me that she'd created a Twitter account again (finally!), so I got on Twitter all excited about that and realize that One Direction has just announced their new single. I was not expecting that, especially when I had just woken up. I still think it was far too early for that, but it was awesome news. I guess I can't complain. Then just about half an hour later the new trailer was released, and it was incredible. I was an emotional, fangirling mess this morning basically. I had no clue if I would be able to get anything done.
I managed to surprise myself though, and in spite of an eventful morning, I've been incredibly productive today. Not only is this my second blog post, but I've written quite a bit today. I also plan on filming a video as soon as I finish up this post. It's weird, but I've kind of discovered that the days I think I'll be the least productive are actually the days I'm the most productive (unless it's days I'm away from home). That's a bit weird, but I'm not complaining.
I managed to surprise myself though, and in spite of an eventful morning, I've been incredibly productive today. Not only is this my second blog post, but I've written quite a bit today. I also plan on filming a video as soon as I finish up this post. It's weird, but I've kind of discovered that the days I think I'll be the least productive are actually the days I'm the most productive (unless it's days I'm away from home). That's a bit weird, but I'm not complaining.
The Titanic
I completely understand why so many people are fascinated by the Titanic. It's this epic tragedy that should have never happened. The sheer amount of things that went wrong is almost too hard to believe. I get the disbelief and the emotions that the tragedy creates. Still, it's so utterly depressing that I wish I wasn't so intrigued by it.
I've seen the Titanic movie just like everyone else, and I've read more than my fair share of stories based around the Titanic. I've even been to the Titanic Museum. I don't know why I put myself through the emotional turmoil I know will come from reading about people dying yet again, but I still read them every time. The majority of the time they're love stories, and it's a good bet that only one member of the couple will die. I know this going in, but it still destroys me every time. I think part of the appeal is that I don't typically get too emotional when I read sad things. There are just a few things that manage to make me an emotional mess for the next day or so after reading, and every single story based around the Titanic that I've read has managed that. I kind of hate it.
Every time I finish one, I tell myself I'll never read one again. I know how it ends. It's too emotional. I'm not doing that to myself anymore. Then, as soon as I find another one I have to read it. I don't know why, but I find it so fascinating that I'm just drawn to it. I don't think there are many things that can inspire such pure emotions in someone than being on a sinking ship. It's not something you can run from (unless you were the lucky few who managed to get on lifeboats), and I think that's what makes it so intriguing to me. Well, that and the fact that it was the ship that was never supposed to sink but did anyway.
Now they're building the Titanic II, an exact replica of the original, and I'm pretty much glued to any news on the subject. You better believe I'm going to be following it closely in the future. I don't consider myself superstitious, but that ship is going to have quite the publicized maiden voyage, and I plan on hanging on every bit of it.
I don't think I'll ever fully understand my fascination with the Titanic, but I'm sure I'll continue to be just as fascinated with it in the future, even if I kind of hate myself for it.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Weddings
Even though my weekends have been busy lately and will continue to be so for at least the next couple of weeks, my actual weeks are full of nothing but writing. It feels good though. I'm really happy with the amount of writing I've been getting done lately.
I also realized that I never really blogged or anything about my cousin Cassie's wedding, although I did post things about it on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. It was a nice wedding though. I was surprised at how small it is. Cassie is my cousin on my mom's side of the family, and our family is huge. The wedding was at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, and we didn't even fill up the small chapel. It's not like my family just didn't show up. I think a good portion of the family was actually there, but it's basically impossible to get my entire family together because people are always busy, especially the ones that live far away. Still, it was nice, and Cassie and Chris also announced that they're having a baby boy (their second child) at the reception, so that's exciting! Considering Valory is just about the most adorable child I've ever met, I'm assuming the new baby will be just as adorable.
Several of my little cousins were there who I hadn't seen in a while, and they're all getting so big! My little cousins are basically constant reminders about how old I'm getting.
My cousin Eddie is getting married next weekend too, and I'm really looking forward to it! We're staying at a hotel since he's getting married a couple of hours away in Kentucky, so it should be exciting. His fiancee Kim is really great. I've met her several times, and she's incredibly sweet and nice. We even sat by them and talked to them at Cassie and Chris' reception. (Chris is also awesome, by the way. He can be pretty hilarious, and he's been really nice every time I've met him. I'm really happy to have both of them in the family now/soon.)
I also realized that I never really blogged or anything about my cousin Cassie's wedding, although I did post things about it on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. It was a nice wedding though. I was surprised at how small it is. Cassie is my cousin on my mom's side of the family, and our family is huge. The wedding was at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, and we didn't even fill up the small chapel. It's not like my family just didn't show up. I think a good portion of the family was actually there, but it's basically impossible to get my entire family together because people are always busy, especially the ones that live far away. Still, it was nice, and Cassie and Chris also announced that they're having a baby boy (their second child) at the reception, so that's exciting! Considering Valory is just about the most adorable child I've ever met, I'm assuming the new baby will be just as adorable.
Several of my little cousins were there who I hadn't seen in a while, and they're all getting so big! My little cousins are basically constant reminders about how old I'm getting.
My cousin Eddie is getting married next weekend too, and I'm really looking forward to it! We're staying at a hotel since he's getting married a couple of hours away in Kentucky, so it should be exciting. His fiancee Kim is really great. I've met her several times, and she's incredibly sweet and nice. We even sat by them and talked to them at Cassie and Chris' reception. (Chris is also awesome, by the way. He can be pretty hilarious, and he's been really nice every time I've met him. I'm really happy to have both of them in the family now/soon.)
Top Ten Most Intimidating Books
This topic came from Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I'm going through and doing all of the old themes whenever I get a chance here and on my Youtube channel.
1. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I actually don't find this incredibly intimidating, but I'm going to add it because so many people do. I started reading Shakespeare at a somewhat young age, but I can't remember how old I was exactly. I just know I found it at my grandparents' house and started reading. Then they gave me a giant book for my birthday one year that was everything he ever wrote. I still haven't managed to read all of them. I need to get better about that. I'm choosing this one though because that book is gigantic, which just on its own could be intimidating, but I also know a lot of people are intimidated by Shakespeare's writing.
2. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I read The Hobbit in seventh grade and hated it. I'm convinced it was because of my age, and I really need to go back and re-read it. (I really enjoyed the first movie though!) I also love The Lord of the Rings films (the whole reason I read The Hobbit in the first place), and I really want to read the books. They do kind of intimidate me though. I think that was the biggest reason that seventh grade me decided to hate The Hobbit.
3. Religious texts (the Bible, Torah, Quran, etc). I've been reading the Bible since I was a little kid, but I still find it intimidating in some ways. I'm also an insanely curious person, and I've always wanted to read other major religious texts. It's incredibly intimidating though. Even though I've read the Bible, reading other religious texts seems even more intimidating. I'm not entirely sure why. I think it comes partly from how old they are and partly from how important they are to a lot of people. I really want to read at least part of some of them someday though.
4. The Divine Comedy by Dante. I was reminded of this from The Broke and the Bookish's post (linked in the first paragraph). I definitely feel as if I should add it to my own list though. I've wanted to read this for a while but have always found it intimidating. When I was younger, the entire idea of it terrified me as I was incredibly preoccupied and terrified about death for a period of time when I was younger. Now that the thought of the afterlife doesn't make me panic like it used to, I really want to give this book a shot, but I still feel as if it would be really difficult to get through. Epic poems are incredibly intimidating to me.
5. The Illiad and the Odyssey by Homer. These are two more epic poems that I find very intimidating. I probably shouldn't. I read parts of the Odyssey during my freshmen year of high school. Still, it wasn't the easiest on me, even though I understood it for the most part. I had difficulty getting into it. I think I could approach it differently now though. I'm incredibly fascinated by Greek mythology, and knowing that they are two of the oldest pieces of western literature just makes me want to read them even more.
6. Beowulf. Yet another epic poem. (I just recently got over finding poetry as a whole intimidating, but I guess I haven't quite gotten there with epic poems.) I've actually read the entirety of this one. We studied it during my senior year of high school. I remember being a bit scared to go into it, and it wasn't my favorite story. I appreciate it from a literature standpoint, but I wouldn't describe it as "fun" to read. Even after having read it, I still find it intimidating.
7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I hear about this so often, and I know I really should read it. I've also seen how thick it is though, and I've heard countless people describe it as a "difficult" read. I feel as if it's one of those books that all English majors need to read though (if such a thing exists).
8. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I saw this on a couple of other lists, and pretty much everything I said about Anna Karenina applies here too.
9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is another one that I've actually read, but I'm including it because of how I felt when I first picked it up. I read it in eighth grade and loved it. However, I remember being incredibly intimidated when I first started reading. I'd heard so much about the book, and I'm pretty sure it was the longest book I'd ever read at that point if we don't include Harry Potter. I remember that I read as much as possible for the entire amount of time we were given, and I still almost didn't get done in time to give my book report on it.
10. Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This is yet another classic that I feel like I should have already read. The intimidation of this one comes from the subject matter much more than the writing however. I just don't think I could get into the book. I feel as if I'd be incredibly bored and have to force myself to finish. I imagine I'll at least try to make myself attempt it at some point, but I'll probably try to avoid it.
1. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I actually don't find this incredibly intimidating, but I'm going to add it because so many people do. I started reading Shakespeare at a somewhat young age, but I can't remember how old I was exactly. I just know I found it at my grandparents' house and started reading. Then they gave me a giant book for my birthday one year that was everything he ever wrote. I still haven't managed to read all of them. I need to get better about that. I'm choosing this one though because that book is gigantic, which just on its own could be intimidating, but I also know a lot of people are intimidated by Shakespeare's writing.
2. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I read The Hobbit in seventh grade and hated it. I'm convinced it was because of my age, and I really need to go back and re-read it. (I really enjoyed the first movie though!) I also love The Lord of the Rings films (the whole reason I read The Hobbit in the first place), and I really want to read the books. They do kind of intimidate me though. I think that was the biggest reason that seventh grade me decided to hate The Hobbit.
3. Religious texts (the Bible, Torah, Quran, etc). I've been reading the Bible since I was a little kid, but I still find it intimidating in some ways. I'm also an insanely curious person, and I've always wanted to read other major religious texts. It's incredibly intimidating though. Even though I've read the Bible, reading other religious texts seems even more intimidating. I'm not entirely sure why. I think it comes partly from how old they are and partly from how important they are to a lot of people. I really want to read at least part of some of them someday though.
4. The Divine Comedy by Dante. I was reminded of this from The Broke and the Bookish's post (linked in the first paragraph). I definitely feel as if I should add it to my own list though. I've wanted to read this for a while but have always found it intimidating. When I was younger, the entire idea of it terrified me as I was incredibly preoccupied and terrified about death for a period of time when I was younger. Now that the thought of the afterlife doesn't make me panic like it used to, I really want to give this book a shot, but I still feel as if it would be really difficult to get through. Epic poems are incredibly intimidating to me.
5. The Illiad and the Odyssey by Homer. These are two more epic poems that I find very intimidating. I probably shouldn't. I read parts of the Odyssey during my freshmen year of high school. Still, it wasn't the easiest on me, even though I understood it for the most part. I had difficulty getting into it. I think I could approach it differently now though. I'm incredibly fascinated by Greek mythology, and knowing that they are two of the oldest pieces of western literature just makes me want to read them even more.
6. Beowulf. Yet another epic poem. (I just recently got over finding poetry as a whole intimidating, but I guess I haven't quite gotten there with epic poems.) I've actually read the entirety of this one. We studied it during my senior year of high school. I remember being a bit scared to go into it, and it wasn't my favorite story. I appreciate it from a literature standpoint, but I wouldn't describe it as "fun" to read. Even after having read it, I still find it intimidating.
7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I hear about this so often, and I know I really should read it. I've also seen how thick it is though, and I've heard countless people describe it as a "difficult" read. I feel as if it's one of those books that all English majors need to read though (if such a thing exists).
8. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I saw this on a couple of other lists, and pretty much everything I said about Anna Karenina applies here too.
9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is another one that I've actually read, but I'm including it because of how I felt when I first picked it up. I read it in eighth grade and loved it. However, I remember being incredibly intimidated when I first started reading. I'd heard so much about the book, and I'm pretty sure it was the longest book I'd ever read at that point if we don't include Harry Potter. I remember that I read as much as possible for the entire amount of time we were given, and I still almost didn't get done in time to give my book report on it.
10. Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This is yet another classic that I feel like I should have already read. The intimidation of this one comes from the subject matter much more than the writing however. I just don't think I could get into the book. I feel as if I'd be incredibly bored and have to force myself to finish. I imagine I'll at least try to make myself attempt it at some point, but I'll probably try to avoid it.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Movies Can Take Up Your Whole Day
Today has gone by unbelievably fast because I haven't been home. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of writing to get done today, so my entire evening is probably going to be filled by that. I went to see This is the End with my sister and her friend Michaela today though. I thought it was okay but not great. My favorite part was definitely the scenes Emma Watson was in and all of the Harry Potter references they made. Otherwise, parts of it were funny, but I just didn't like it much overall. After the movie, my sister needed to go to Hobby Lobby, and it felt like we were in there forever. Honestly, we didn't do much, but it seems to have taken up my whole day. I still have two articles to write today though, so I need to get started on that. Hopefully, they won't take too incredibly long.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The One Direction Concert
It's been two days, and I still haven't really talked about my One Direction concert experience anywhere online except the excited, fangirly tweets that I sent that night. I just feel as if the experience was too amazing to put into words. If I had had a laptop in front of me right after the concert that night I could have written a post where I rambled on and on about it, but it wouldn't have made much sense to anyone else. There are no words to describe how I felt that night. There really aren't. I'll try my best though.
My mom took Haley and me to Louisville that afternoon. I actually ended up driving the entire way there, which I am really proud about. (Maybe I really will get my license this summer.) We went to my cousin Theresa's house, where we were staying for the night. After my mom left, we went to downtown Louisville to find a place to eat near the KFC Yum Center, where the concert was taking place. We ended up driving by the place where all the tour buses were parked, and I may have freaked out. I'd been freaking out the whole day, but that was just a shock for me since I hadn't been expecting it.
It was pouring down rain by the time we parked, so we had to walk around with umbrellas that weren't really protecting us all that much. We stopped at the closest restaurant to the KFC Yum Center, but the wait was so long that we didn't really have time to eat there. We walked just a little bit past it to this Irish pub where we got seated immediately. Apparently everyone wanted out of the rain so badly that they weren't bothering to walk just a few extra feet. It was a really cool place. I couldn't really eat much because of my nerves, but you better believe that I sent an excited tweet to Niall about seeing him that night and being in an Irish pub. I couldn't pass up that opportunity.
Luckily, it had stopped raining by the time we finished eating, and Theresa left Haley and I to line up in front of the Yum Center. We had to stand there for a bit, but eventually we got inside and (after waiting again for the restroom) we got in line to buy merchandise. It took forever. So long in fact that we almost missed the beginning of 5 Seconds of Summer's set, but we managed to get what we wanted (a poster and bracelets in my case). 5 Seconds of Summer's set started as we were searching for our seats.
I'm not a huge fan of 5 Seconds of Summer, but I do think they are really talented. It was cool seeing them live. I probably would have enjoyed it more though if I hadn't been so nervous about One Direction. (Just writing this post is making me excited all over again because I'm thinking about it.)
After 5 Seconds of Summer we had to wait about 45 minutes for One Direction. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about the concert because there is no way to possibly describe how I felt. The first few seconds might have been the best though because Haley and I were holding onto each other and just freaking out like the insane fangirls we are. It's probably a good thing that no one we know was around. There is no way to describe what it was like to see them come out on that stage though. I had the "they are real" moment right then, and it was just so surreal. The other best moment was when I hugged Haley at the end and could feel her shaking. Needless to say, it was a pretty emotional night for us.
Hearing them actually talk and sing in the arena may have been just as surreal as seeing them. Obviously it was over a sound system and not face to face, but it was still entirely different than hearing it over video. It was just incredible.
For those who don't know enough about One Direction concerts to know exactly what happens, at one point the boys are in a platform over the audience, and eventually they land on a smaller stage where they stay for part of the concert. Our seats were directly in front of that smaller stage, which was amazing.
There is just no way to describe what I was feeling that night. It was the loudest I have ever screamed, and believe me, my throat is still paying for it. It was just all around the loudest I have probably ever been in public. I was screaming out the lyrics and everything, and everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely never sing in public. During past concerts I've been to, I've sung along but quieter than everyone else. I couldn't have cared less how loud I was being that night. I was having the greatest night of my life, and that was literally all I cared about.
My ears are also still ringing. They told us multiple times that we were the loudest crowd they had to far in America, but 1. we were only the third show on this American tour and 2. it's entirely possible they were just saying that. Still, it was unbelievably loud. The screams for the encore were louder than anything I have ever heard in my life. I don't even know how to describe how loud that arena got. It was incredible. I just wonder if my ears will ever stop ringing.
Afterwards we went back to Theresa's and stayed up most of the night. Even after Theresa went to bed, Haley and I were up for several hours. I think I fell asleep somewhere around five in the morning. I only got about three or four hours of sleep, and I was pretty much dead to the world all of Monday. I did basically nothing, and I ended up going to bed far earlier than I ever do because I just couldn't take it anymore.
Luckily, after eleven hours of sleep last night I'm feeling better. Still, that was the greatest night of my life. I can still hardly think about anything else, so I'm having trouble getting any productive writing done. I have things I promised to have finished this week though, so I'm pushing through. I'm just getting distracted pretty often whenever I start thinking about Sunday. It was just one of those things that I wish everyone could experience (not necessarily with One Direction but with whatever would make them that happy) because it was seriously the greatest feeling in the world.
My mom took Haley and me to Louisville that afternoon. I actually ended up driving the entire way there, which I am really proud about. (Maybe I really will get my license this summer.) We went to my cousin Theresa's house, where we were staying for the night. After my mom left, we went to downtown Louisville to find a place to eat near the KFC Yum Center, where the concert was taking place. We ended up driving by the place where all the tour buses were parked, and I may have freaked out. I'd been freaking out the whole day, but that was just a shock for me since I hadn't been expecting it.
It was pouring down rain by the time we parked, so we had to walk around with umbrellas that weren't really protecting us all that much. We stopped at the closest restaurant to the KFC Yum Center, but the wait was so long that we didn't really have time to eat there. We walked just a little bit past it to this Irish pub where we got seated immediately. Apparently everyone wanted out of the rain so badly that they weren't bothering to walk just a few extra feet. It was a really cool place. I couldn't really eat much because of my nerves, but you better believe that I sent an excited tweet to Niall about seeing him that night and being in an Irish pub. I couldn't pass up that opportunity.
Luckily, it had stopped raining by the time we finished eating, and Theresa left Haley and I to line up in front of the Yum Center. We had to stand there for a bit, but eventually we got inside and (after waiting again for the restroom) we got in line to buy merchandise. It took forever. So long in fact that we almost missed the beginning of 5 Seconds of Summer's set, but we managed to get what we wanted (a poster and bracelets in my case). 5 Seconds of Summer's set started as we were searching for our seats.
I'm not a huge fan of 5 Seconds of Summer, but I do think they are really talented. It was cool seeing them live. I probably would have enjoyed it more though if I hadn't been so nervous about One Direction. (Just writing this post is making me excited all over again because I'm thinking about it.)
After 5 Seconds of Summer we had to wait about 45 minutes for One Direction. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about the concert because there is no way to possibly describe how I felt. The first few seconds might have been the best though because Haley and I were holding onto each other and just freaking out like the insane fangirls we are. It's probably a good thing that no one we know was around. There is no way to describe what it was like to see them come out on that stage though. I had the "they are real" moment right then, and it was just so surreal. The other best moment was when I hugged Haley at the end and could feel her shaking. Needless to say, it was a pretty emotional night for us.
Hearing them actually talk and sing in the arena may have been just as surreal as seeing them. Obviously it was over a sound system and not face to face, but it was still entirely different than hearing it over video. It was just incredible.
For those who don't know enough about One Direction concerts to know exactly what happens, at one point the boys are in a platform over the audience, and eventually they land on a smaller stage where they stay for part of the concert. Our seats were directly in front of that smaller stage, which was amazing.
There is just no way to describe what I was feeling that night. It was the loudest I have ever screamed, and believe me, my throat is still paying for it. It was just all around the loudest I have probably ever been in public. I was screaming out the lyrics and everything, and everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely never sing in public. During past concerts I've been to, I've sung along but quieter than everyone else. I couldn't have cared less how loud I was being that night. I was having the greatest night of my life, and that was literally all I cared about.
My ears are also still ringing. They told us multiple times that we were the loudest crowd they had to far in America, but 1. we were only the third show on this American tour and 2. it's entirely possible they were just saying that. Still, it was unbelievably loud. The screams for the encore were louder than anything I have ever heard in my life. I don't even know how to describe how loud that arena got. It was incredible. I just wonder if my ears will ever stop ringing.
Afterwards we went back to Theresa's and stayed up most of the night. Even after Theresa went to bed, Haley and I were up for several hours. I think I fell asleep somewhere around five in the morning. I only got about three or four hours of sleep, and I was pretty much dead to the world all of Monday. I did basically nothing, and I ended up going to bed far earlier than I ever do because I just couldn't take it anymore.
Luckily, after eleven hours of sleep last night I'm feeling better. Still, that was the greatest night of my life. I can still hardly think about anything else, so I'm having trouble getting any productive writing done. I have things I promised to have finished this week though, so I'm pushing through. I'm just getting distracted pretty often whenever I start thinking about Sunday. It was just one of those things that I wish everyone could experience (not necessarily with One Direction but with whatever would make them that happy) because it was seriously the greatest feeling in the world.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Television Review: Twisted Episode One
On Tuesday I watched the premiere of ABC Family's new show Twisted. I don't watch much TV as it actually airs on TV, but I really wanted to get into some shows. Since Twisted was just premiering and I found it intriguing, I decided to watch the first episode.
By the first commercial break I knew that I was going to be watching every week. I'm already obsessed with this show. I'm not really a fan of any other ABC Family shows (although Pretty Little Liars is on my "to watch" list), but I love this one.
For anyone who hasn't heard about it, Twisted is about a boy, Danny, who murders his aunt while his two best friends, Jo and Lacey, are playing outside. That happens at the very beginning of the first episode, and then it fast forwards to five years in the future when Danny has just gotten out of juvie and is coming back to school. Danny's trying to become friends with Jo and Lacey again, but unsurprisingly, they're a bit scared of him and are trying to stay away from him. Then, another student, one of Lacey's new best friends, ends up murdered and Danny is arrested for it. That was all just in the first episode!
I'm really intrigued by all of the characters. I think the first episode makes you really attached to Danny even though he has so many secrets. He flat out says he murdered his aunt, but he keeps insisting that there's a reason that he can't reveal to anyone. Then, you're hoping he didn't murder the other student, but you're not really sure if you think he did or not. It could really go both ways. It's extremely conflicting, at least for me. I really like Danny's character, but there's just so much mystery there and he doesn't deny murdering his aunt. You're rooting for him and hoping he can reconnect with Jo and Lacey while you're also extremely suspicious of what he's up to. It's just really mind-bending and mysterious. Danny's such a likeable character but also a bit scary. I'm not sure how I feel about him yet, but it kind of disturbs me how much I like him so far considering everything.
I think my feelings toward Danny are actually pretty similar to Jo's and maybe even Lacey's. They both seem so conflicted, but Jo's a bit more willing to let Danny back into her life. It's understandable I guess, since they were best friends. Jo wants to see the best in Danny, and like I said, he's a very likeable character. He doesn't really come across as dangerous, but you also see that potential there.
The entire thing is just a huge mystery, and the show is really character driven I think, which makes me love it even more. I'm definitely going to keep watching, and I'll probably review every episode like I did season one of Korra. I'm hoping I stay this invested in it.
By the first commercial break I knew that I was going to be watching every week. I'm already obsessed with this show. I'm not really a fan of any other ABC Family shows (although Pretty Little Liars is on my "to watch" list), but I love this one.
For anyone who hasn't heard about it, Twisted is about a boy, Danny, who murders his aunt while his two best friends, Jo and Lacey, are playing outside. That happens at the very beginning of the first episode, and then it fast forwards to five years in the future when Danny has just gotten out of juvie and is coming back to school. Danny's trying to become friends with Jo and Lacey again, but unsurprisingly, they're a bit scared of him and are trying to stay away from him. Then, another student, one of Lacey's new best friends, ends up murdered and Danny is arrested for it. That was all just in the first episode!
I'm really intrigued by all of the characters. I think the first episode makes you really attached to Danny even though he has so many secrets. He flat out says he murdered his aunt, but he keeps insisting that there's a reason that he can't reveal to anyone. Then, you're hoping he didn't murder the other student, but you're not really sure if you think he did or not. It could really go both ways. It's extremely conflicting, at least for me. I really like Danny's character, but there's just so much mystery there and he doesn't deny murdering his aunt. You're rooting for him and hoping he can reconnect with Jo and Lacey while you're also extremely suspicious of what he's up to. It's just really mind-bending and mysterious. Danny's such a likeable character but also a bit scary. I'm not sure how I feel about him yet, but it kind of disturbs me how much I like him so far considering everything.
I think my feelings toward Danny are actually pretty similar to Jo's and maybe even Lacey's. They both seem so conflicted, but Jo's a bit more willing to let Danny back into her life. It's understandable I guess, since they were best friends. Jo wants to see the best in Danny, and like I said, he's a very likeable character. He doesn't really come across as dangerous, but you also see that potential there.
The entire thing is just a huge mystery, and the show is really character driven I think, which makes me love it even more. I'm definitely going to keep watching, and I'll probably review every episode like I did season one of Korra. I'm hoping I stay this invested in it.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
If Only Diet Changes Were Easier
For the past week or so my days have consisted of nothing more than writing and reading for the most part. I consider that a good thing, since I've managed to get quite a bit or writing done, but it's not really all that exciting.
I just finished watching the documentary Forks Over Knives, and it's really made me want to stop eating meat and dairy. I know that it's entirely possible I'll stop caring really soon once the initial reaction wears off, but I really do want to do it. I've wanted to for a long time. (I even gave up meat for Lent once.) It's just that I'm such a picky eater that it's extremely difficult. I really want to do it though. I'm tempted to look up vegan recipes and start planning out meals and stuff. We'll see what happens.
Only four more days to go until the One Direction concert! I'm unbelievably excited!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The Only Relationship Advice I Feel Comfortable Giving
This post is going to be about something I don't talk about often: dating. It's something that I have pretty strong opinions on for never having experienced. I don't tend to voice most of those opinions since other people's relationships aren't my business and I have no authority to say something. Still, here are a few things I want to say that pertain to dating/relationships/etc.:
1. Asking people if they're dating someone when you first meet them is kind of awkward. Seriously. Why do people do that? What if they just went through a really bad breakup? What if they are going through a rough patch in their relationship? What if they're single and hate it? There are so many variables there that could make that question uncomfortable, yet I've been asked that countless times by people I barely know.
2. Even better, when I get asked this question and it inevitably comes out that I've never had a boyfriend, I will inevitably get asked, "Why?" How do you expect me to answer that question? I don't have an answer. There are countless reasons, and none of them are things I want to discuss with someone I hardly know and will most likely never see again. You're just digging the hole deeper for yourself after asking the first question.
3. If you think Edward Cullen is the ideal boyfriend, you are living a dangerous fantasy. Here's a wonderful video by John Green that explains why. Here's one of the countless articles about how Edward and Bella's relationship is abusive. Here's another one from a psychology website. There are so, so many others out there if you need to be convinced farther. Now, I still consider myself a Twilight fan (to a certain extent). I read Twilight fanfiction all the time and even have plans to write my own (that will not center around Bella and Edward). However, more people need to acknowledge that Bella and Edward's relationship is horrible, and absolutely no one should be expecting to have a boyfriend like Edward Cullen. I'm not even going to get started on 50 Shades of Grey... (Why can't books about healthy romantic relationships get more attention?)
4. If you have been dating someone for a very short amount of time, then you do not love them. You don't. You especially don't if you're not even an adult yet. I know preteens and teenagers do this most often. Your hormones are going crazy. They are at fault here. You are not in love. I know you think you're special and your relationship is different, but trust me, you're not. It's the hormones. Do you know how many crushes I had when I was a preteen that I was absolutely convinced I was going to marry? Do you want to know how every single one of those went? I'm convinced that we need to teach kids the different between crushes, infatuation, lust, and love at some point in school. Then again, it would probably do absolutely no good because they would all remain convinced that they're different.
5. Please don't fight with your significant other on the Internet (i.e. Facebook). This goes for friends as well as romantic relationships too by the way. It's the reason I never go on Facebook (well, one of the reasons). No one wants to see that, and you're accomplishing nothing. All that you're doing is giving everyone fuel to gossip about you with. If you want to make things better, talk in person and in private. I still remember every single person who I saw fighting with someone on Facebook. It doesn't help the way people view you. Stop doing it. To be fair, this is also primarily the preteens and teens.
I think those are my biggest relationship pet peeves, and those are all things I feel quite comfortable complaining about even without having been in a relationship. There are so many others I could add, but those are all things I feel I wouldn't be taken seriously with considering I have no experience being in a relationship.
1. Asking people if they're dating someone when you first meet them is kind of awkward. Seriously. Why do people do that? What if they just went through a really bad breakup? What if they are going through a rough patch in their relationship? What if they're single and hate it? There are so many variables there that could make that question uncomfortable, yet I've been asked that countless times by people I barely know.
2. Even better, when I get asked this question and it inevitably comes out that I've never had a boyfriend, I will inevitably get asked, "Why?" How do you expect me to answer that question? I don't have an answer. There are countless reasons, and none of them are things I want to discuss with someone I hardly know and will most likely never see again. You're just digging the hole deeper for yourself after asking the first question.
3. If you think Edward Cullen is the ideal boyfriend, you are living a dangerous fantasy. Here's a wonderful video by John Green that explains why. Here's one of the countless articles about how Edward and Bella's relationship is abusive. Here's another one from a psychology website. There are so, so many others out there if you need to be convinced farther. Now, I still consider myself a Twilight fan (to a certain extent). I read Twilight fanfiction all the time and even have plans to write my own (that will not center around Bella and Edward). However, more people need to acknowledge that Bella and Edward's relationship is horrible, and absolutely no one should be expecting to have a boyfriend like Edward Cullen. I'm not even going to get started on 50 Shades of Grey... (Why can't books about healthy romantic relationships get more attention?)
4. If you have been dating someone for a very short amount of time, then you do not love them. You don't. You especially don't if you're not even an adult yet. I know preteens and teenagers do this most often. Your hormones are going crazy. They are at fault here. You are not in love. I know you think you're special and your relationship is different, but trust me, you're not. It's the hormones. Do you know how many crushes I had when I was a preteen that I was absolutely convinced I was going to marry? Do you want to know how every single one of those went? I'm convinced that we need to teach kids the different between crushes, infatuation, lust, and love at some point in school. Then again, it would probably do absolutely no good because they would all remain convinced that they're different.
5. Please don't fight with your significant other on the Internet (i.e. Facebook). This goes for friends as well as romantic relationships too by the way. It's the reason I never go on Facebook (well, one of the reasons). No one wants to see that, and you're accomplishing nothing. All that you're doing is giving everyone fuel to gossip about you with. If you want to make things better, talk in person and in private. I still remember every single person who I saw fighting with someone on Facebook. It doesn't help the way people view you. Stop doing it. To be fair, this is also primarily the preteens and teens.
I think those are my biggest relationship pet peeves, and those are all things I feel quite comfortable complaining about even without having been in a relationship. There are so many others I could add, but those are all things I feel I wouldn't be taken seriously with considering I have no experience being in a relationship.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Top Ten Hilarious Book Titles
This post came from Top Ten Tuesday, a meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. I'm going through all the old topics, but I'm posting them whenever I feel like instead of on Tuesdays. (I'm also sometimes doing them in video form on my Youtube channel.)
I'm going to be completely honest: I can't really think of many of these. Not many of my books really have hilarious titles. At least, I don't think so. The other Top Ten Tuesday posts for this particular topic have some really good ones, but I can't really think of many. For that reason, I'm just going to leave you with the only one I could think of off the top of my head:
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle. The only reason I know about this book is because my family owns it somewhere. It was a Christmas gift from someone in the family (and I think they gave it to each family in our extended family), but it was so many years ago that I can't remember who exactly. If you knew my family at all though, you'd understand why a book about a farting dog would go over so well as a Christmas present, even amongst the adults. I also discovered just now while looking up the author's name that there's actually a whole series. It is a really cute book though. I think most people would get enjoyment out of it. It's both funny and sweet.
I wish I had more funny titles to share. I know I've seen some in the past. It's just that none of them are coming to mind. I feel like I could find some if I looked through my old childhood books, but most of those are either gone or buried in my brother's room somewhere.
I'm going to be completely honest: I can't really think of many of these. Not many of my books really have hilarious titles. At least, I don't think so. The other Top Ten Tuesday posts for this particular topic have some really good ones, but I can't really think of many. For that reason, I'm just going to leave you with the only one I could think of off the top of my head:
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle. The only reason I know about this book is because my family owns it somewhere. It was a Christmas gift from someone in the family (and I think they gave it to each family in our extended family), but it was so many years ago that I can't remember who exactly. If you knew my family at all though, you'd understand why a book about a farting dog would go over so well as a Christmas present, even amongst the adults. I also discovered just now while looking up the author's name that there's actually a whole series. It is a really cute book though. I think most people would get enjoyment out of it. It's both funny and sweet.
I wish I had more funny titles to share. I know I've seen some in the past. It's just that none of them are coming to mind. I feel like I could find some if I looked through my old childhood books, but most of those are either gone or buried in my brother's room somewhere.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Meeting Little Mix and Dyeing My Hair
So many things have happened in the past few days that I don't even know where to start, but I'll stick with the two biggest: 1. I met Little Mix and 2. I dyed my hair.
I met Little Mix with my best friend Haley two days ago. They performed three songs and then did a signing. I wasn't sure how I'd react when I saw them in person, but I was really close to tears when I saw them on stage. There was just this really surreal "they actually exist" moment, and it was the most wonderful thing in the world. It was even more surreal when it was our turn during the signing, and we actually got to go up to them. I had written all four of them letters, and Haley filmed us going through where you can see Jesy, Leigh-Anne, and Perrie thank me. She didn't get Jade thanking me, but that was really the most nerve-wracking one because she was first. She seemed pleasantly surprised when I handed her the letter though. The other three knew it was coming because they saw them then, but Jesy thanking me is the sweetest thing in the world. She was so enthusiastic about it (as you can see in the video), and I mean, really, she was the one sitting there for hours signing CD after CD. We ended up joining the large group of people that had congregated at the end of the line to watch them. It sounds kind of creepy I suppose, but even after I'd talked to them, the whole surreal feeling was still there. I just had to watch them for a bit to fully realize that they are in fact real. I filmed parts of the performance and while we were standing at the end of the line watching them, but it's all still on my camera. It'll be up on Youtube tomorrow I think.
The day after meeting Little Mix I got my hair dyed. It's the first time I've ever dyed my hair, but it's something I've wanted to do for an extremely long time. It's not an auburn color as opposed to my natural dirty blonde. I really, really love it. It looks darker when it's not in light, but in the light, the red really comes through. It looks amazing. This is my favorite hair color ever, and I'm so, so happy. I tweeted a picture, but I'm really badly sunburnt from the Little Mix thing in the picture....
I think the next week or so will be calm, but in just ten days, Haley and I will be going to the One Direction Louisville concert! I'm unbelievably excited!!
I met Little Mix with my best friend Haley two days ago. They performed three songs and then did a signing. I wasn't sure how I'd react when I saw them in person, but I was really close to tears when I saw them on stage. There was just this really surreal "they actually exist" moment, and it was the most wonderful thing in the world. It was even more surreal when it was our turn during the signing, and we actually got to go up to them. I had written all four of them letters, and Haley filmed us going through where you can see Jesy, Leigh-Anne, and Perrie thank me. She didn't get Jade thanking me, but that was really the most nerve-wracking one because she was first. She seemed pleasantly surprised when I handed her the letter though. The other three knew it was coming because they saw them then, but Jesy thanking me is the sweetest thing in the world. She was so enthusiastic about it (as you can see in the video), and I mean, really, she was the one sitting there for hours signing CD after CD. We ended up joining the large group of people that had congregated at the end of the line to watch them. It sounds kind of creepy I suppose, but even after I'd talked to them, the whole surreal feeling was still there. I just had to watch them for a bit to fully realize that they are in fact real. I filmed parts of the performance and while we were standing at the end of the line watching them, but it's all still on my camera. It'll be up on Youtube tomorrow I think.
The day after meeting Little Mix I got my hair dyed. It's the first time I've ever dyed my hair, but it's something I've wanted to do for an extremely long time. It's not an auburn color as opposed to my natural dirty blonde. I really, really love it. It looks darker when it's not in light, but in the light, the red really comes through. It looks amazing. This is my favorite hair color ever, and I'm so, so happy. I tweeted a picture, but I'm really badly sunburnt from the Little Mix thing in the picture....
I think the next week or so will be calm, but in just ten days, Haley and I will be going to the One Direction Louisville concert! I'm unbelievably excited!!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Book Review: The Story of the Voice by David Capes
ISBN: 1401676693Published: March 12th, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Synopsis from publisher:
Step into the story behind “the story.” Discover the reasons behind and the vision for The Voice translation! In-depth interviews with key participants explain the translators' motivations and visions for the project. Learn how the translators worked to bring a balance between scholarship, literary style, and forward thinking to meet the scripture needs for the church.
Features include:
- Discussion of how The Voice makes the Bible accessible to new believers
- Explanation of The Voice’s unique style and features
- Examples illustrate how scholars worked through the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible
- Firsthand accounts of The Voice translation project
Review:
This book tells the story of how The Voice translation came to be. The beginning tells the reader a bit about some of the key people who worked on the translation. Then, there are chapters about different aspects of working on the translation, including why they chose certain words over others and how the translation was marketed.
I thought this book was very interesting. I knew nothing about The Voice translation before reading this book. I'll probably never read the translation, since I'm Catholic and it's a Protestant Bible. (Actually I found it very interesting that at the end the author, who had repeated over and over that there are 66 books in the Bible, talked about how there will never be any books taken away or added from the Bible, when in fact there are 73 books in the Catholic Bible and seven were taken out of the Protestant one.) Still, it was interesting to read about the translation, and I'm definitely intrigued by it.
Some parts of the book were harder for me to get through than others. The beginning chapters were basically just biographies of people who worked on the project, and I more-or-less skimmed through those. The chapters about word choice and why they translated certain things the way they did was extremely interesting to me though. I really enjoyed those chapters.
If you find The Voice translation of the Bible at all intriguing, then I'd recommend checking this book out.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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