I'm in peace, I feel sweetly released...

"So this is the new year

and I have no resolutions

for self assigned penance

for problems with easy solutions."

-New Year, Death Cab

Happy New Year, ladies and gents. My New Year's eve plans got messed up a couple times, so I ended up staying in town with family, but that was fun. Now I have things to talk about. I just have to remember them. Most people post a reminiscent blog at the end of every year, as well as a resolution blog for the next. I am unsure of my desire for either. The things I am most reminiscent about I write elsewhere, and I have never been one for New Year's resolutions.

Exercise more. There's your grand 2010 resolution folks. Heck, it's no resolution, it's a lifelong pain in the butt that I will always have pestering me. But, for this nostalgic resolution time of year, we'll dust it off, slap that "resolution" label on it, and re-situate it on the shelf in a more convenient place for occasional guilt trips. I take these things seriously, folks.

World Peace. This is another personal New Year's resolution of mine.

So, Avatar in 3D. I do think it's a great movie, I just feel as though I appreciated the fact that the forest glowed in the dark more than the actual plot line. The special effects were phenomenal. But I do appreciate that the glasses made you look like Andy Warhol. This is all I have to say about Avatar, is this okay?

I wrote a poem last night that I'm rather proud of, but I don't think I'll be posting anything I write on this blog any time in the near future. I'm so used to having strangers critique stuff. It's so much easier to have someone read something you've written that only knows you via the inter-webs. I miss having well-known published YA authors critiquing my stuff. :] Oh HarperTeen FanLit, how you changed my life.

Tonight we were playing Taboo, and it was my Grandma's turn to go. The first thing she said in attempt to get us to guess her word was, "Allyson is very..." Zachary, who was making sure she didn't use any of her tabooed words, whispered something in her ear. She thought the word said sweet. It was sweat. Allyson is very sweat. Thanks, Grandma. At least I know your heart was in the right place.

ModgePodge Attack!

I will finish Franny and Zooey soon.

Try mixing egg nog and coffee yourself, it's fantastic.

Tenth Avenue North is incredible.

As is Priscilla Ahn.

I want these on my feet.

I can't stop listening to this,

and Wade's lovely uke cover.

I want Mr. Tumnus to be my friend.

I want glow-in-the-dark dots on my face.

Rad: I am not sure if he is speaking English, but this is probably something I will make my child do. Even though the asian factor does add bonus cute points.

Unrad: Why can't I just go to bed?!

And I, I Feel Satisfied.

I have nothing to write about, except for my lucid desire to start turning thoughts into words at this unhealthy 2 A.M. hour. And with that, I have exhausted my only topic in a mere sentence.

Well, I shall turn on my word waterfall. This may not end well, for it is, after all, way past the last hour I can make any comprehendible sense. However, the later the hour, the more far fetched my reasonings get. This has proved helpful for inspiration kicks in the past. We'll see what happens.

I feel as though reading through everything I've been writing in the past few days is proving to show me everything is overwhelmingly represented by one emotion. I want to try to convey this emotion in a bit more of a subtle manner, as to not give a overdramatic representation of what I'm feeling inside.

The reunion was fantastic. I learned how to play Dominion, got to know some jr. staff who I had not really interacted with much over the summer, cross country skied over ice for four hours (and have the war wounds to prove it), saw some of my beautiful friends for the first time in months, learned You're Beautiful by Phil Wickham (and quickly purchased it on iTunes), spent some quality time with my two nephews, had way too much hot chocolate for a girl with a bladder of tiny proportions, and most importantly was refreshingly engulfed with the Word of God and His love. This was probably one of the most refreshing escapes to camp I have been able to have since... well, a while. It was that good. My heart is finally filling up and becoming whole correctly.

My stomach, however, is not becoming whole correctly and currently yearns for food. Probably that which carries nutrition. I, consequently, will fill it with yum. Late night (early morning) hunger is probably where my lifestyle is least healthy. I cannot even remember the days where dinner was my last intake of calories for the day. Oh, to be young again. Bahaha. Kidding, mother. I know I am young.

You know the expression 'young at heart'? Yes well, I feel as though there are many young people who are old at heart.

Is this expression ever used?

Also, when you think about it, old at heart isn't even an insult.

Is it insulting to be called kind, compassionate, caring, and wise?

What do young hearts have that old hearts don't?

Are we talking health wise or personality wise?

I've never thought the expression was used to describe a persons health. Therefore, I feel as though it is quite correct to say I would rather be old at heart than young at heart.

Well gushing stream of thought, I think we've done enough damage for the night. Let's sleep before these people think we're utterly mad.

Rad: Meaningful Lyrics. Seeing Avatar tomorrow.

Unrad: Tempting Christmas desserts.

This is Not a Love Story.

(500) Days of Summer.

Alyson gave me this film on DVD last night, at a party with a ton of our high school friends. Since this was our last night together, we were desperate to watch it together right away. So, before there got to be too many people there, we popped it in, started watching, and shoved the case in anyone's face who asked what it was. It began to get slightly louder in the room, so we made a comfy little spot for ourselves inches away from the TV, ignoring any interruptions.

At first there were a few "Why are we watching a chick flick" mumbles from a guy or two, but at the beginning of the movie there were probably 7 of us watching. By the end of the movie, there were probably about 20 people in the room... 7 of them had joined us inches from the TV. :]

It's SUCH a good film. I especially like the indie film style they used, and the ending. Oh, the ending! Halfway through the film, I thought of that ending in my head, and I wanted it so badly because it's so real.

I may just watch it again today. Plus, the soundtrack is fantastic! Of course is features Zooey's music in She & Him, but it also features Regina Spektor, Simon and Garfunkel, and a fantastic song called Sweet Disposition from The Temper Trap.

We also watched another film on my list, Away We Go. I wanted to see this mostly because of Mr. Krasinski, but it was very good as well. A little frustrating...but well filmed.

So now, my films to see list is a teenie bit shorter. In theaters: Brothers, An Education, and Lovely Bones. However, I have no money for this.

Okay, I just needed to make my love for this movie public. Thank you.

Merry Christmas Eve, by the way. :]

Rad: Jesus' birth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting ability

Unrad: NOTHING! It's CHRISTMAS, children!!

Edwart Mullen is My Hero.

"About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe. Second, there was a vampire part of him–which I assumed was wildly out of his control–that wanted me dead. And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me.

And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon’s hilarious send-up of Twilight.

Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events–Edwart leaves his tater tots untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!–Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive?

Complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behavior, and a vampire prom, Nightlight is the uproarious tale of a vampire-obsessed girl, looking for love in all the wrong places."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Oh goodness gracious. The day I picked this book up in Barnes and Noble, I instantly fell in love. I cannot wait to read it. Seriously. It's hilariously fantastic. Bahahaha.

In other news, today I was at Starbucks sitting by myself. I was reading the New York Times (which, i had never realized before, is a FANTASTIC newspaper), and a woman sat down near me. Soon after, she was shortly greeted by a man who seemed to be her significant other. Naturally, I listened to their conversation for a bit. (Okay, maybe this isn't natural for everyone to be rude like this, but it is for me. It's so fun.) Anywho, I kept the newspaper close and kept my eyes on one article I was "reading". Ten minutes later I realized I was "reading" the same article. I think they suspected something. Oh well, their conversations on middle schoolers' drinking starbucks, watching gamblers in casinos, and working on New Year's eve weren't very

poignant

. I went back to actually reading the newspaper, giving up on any attempt on inspiring entertainment.

Last night I watched the documentary on the special feature's disk of HP 6 entitled JK Rowling: A Year in The Life. Footage began the day she finished the rough manuscript of Deathly Hallows and continued just beyond the mad release of the final copy. The documentary covered much of her depressing earlier life, and how you can see remnants of this in the series. With her it's not like the common sob story of other famous people. You know, how every actress was "teased a lot in grade school" or how "my family had no money when I was a child". I mean, my sympathy goes out to these poor, poor famous people. But JK's story isn't as cliche'd as this. She had a very tough life before Harry Potter, but it's all so real. She's so real. So poised. The money is a means to support her family and charities, and the fame is hardly a desired way of living for her. But she takes it all in stride, both feet planted firmly on the ground.

I love JK Rowling.

Oh look, a blog that talks about Twilight (indirectly), Starbucks, and Harry Potter. Way to move on to new material, Allyson. You really love steppin' out of that box.

Rad: Warmth.

Unrad: Lack of motivation to exercise.

Your Beauty Confuses Me

Okay. Alright. Lady Gaga inspired this blog. Therefore, it's going to be out there. Just a warning.

Alright. So, ever since Lady Gaga started to break out into the media, her outfits have completely dumbfounded me. I love fashion, I REALLY do. I understand outfits that are "out there", and many outfits that most people may think are crazy in the midwest appeal to me. But I never understood how you could call the things Lady Gaga wears as fashionable. Especially the things placed in and on her head. Here are a few "outfits" I just did not understand.

Is there a person under there?

I mean, I think that's a human...

This would make a lovely... nope. Nothing.

Were ya chilly in there, hun?

I feel as though you may break your neck.

Then, after I watched her Bad Romance music video, my odd curiosity was ultimately piqued.

I loved, resented, was frightened by, slightly obsessed with and oddly curious of everything Lady Gaga. Yes, I agree that she is an icon. There is no question in that. But a fashion icon? Really? This is fashion? To each his own... but this is just extreme.

On another topic, soon to be intertwined with the first, I was on a fashion blog that I check in on every once in while, and saw the strangest, most unrealistically beautiful make-up I have ever seen. They looked like aliens. Beautiful aliens. Naturally, I researched more.

I found it was for a designer named Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 fashion show. So, I clicked the link to watch it. I watched the whole thing, which is about ten minutes long. However, I'll link to the very end where they all come out, which also features Lady Gaga's newest single.

Yeah, I don't understand it either. Here are a look at some of the outfits closer: [+] {+} [+]

On their own, without all the extravagant make-up, hair, and heels, there as a select few dresses I could see being worn on the runway. Gorgeous, but still... And recognize the last of those images? That's because Lady Gaga wears it in her Bad Romance music video. See? This is all coming together now.

Yet, how is Alexander McQueen a highly famous and respectable fashion designer? I mean, don't people have to buy your stuff to become rich and well-known in the fashion industry? SO many questions. However, this designer began to fascinate me. So, I checked out his winter line. They have LAMPS on their heads, and their lips are the sizes of balloons!?! I felt bad for the models! I was so confused. Am I not sophisticated enough to understand this type of fashion?

Then I came to a realization. Hypothesis, if you will. These people, McQueen and Gaga, they are taking it beyond fashion. These models, they were being used as canvasses and being analyzed as a piece of art, rather than a human wearing an outfit. Yes I agree fashion is a form of art, but you are still dealing with a beautiful, three dimensional human being underneath! The best type of style is one that helps your personality come out! Not flatten it with a frying pan, brand a designer on it and say, "Here, look at me as art, not as a human."

Sigh. To each his own.

However, on a side note, I went to a dance concert the other week that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here I saw many dancers wear a plethora of outfits. The dance experiences I've had involve pre-teens proudly showcasing their dances in clothing that would usually be deemed inappropriate, if it wasn't in a recital setting. Yet at this professional dance, the outfits chosen were very appropriate, often having an excess of fabric. I like this. It helped your eyes analyze the colors, movement, and faces rather then shiny in-your-face pizzaz.

Long blog. Okay.

Rad: Saoirse Ronan love her.

Unrad: Being home when friends aren't!

Way To Go, Champ!

Hello. Hola. Besides an online exam and a short review paper to submit online, I am offically done with semester one. I could have gone home with my parents today after my Christmas concert. However, everyone who wasn't as lucky as me is staying for a few days this week to take their exams. Henceforth and therefore, I am staying. Also because ALYSON IS COMING TOMORROW! I am excited, to say the least. We get to wear our ugly holiday sweaters together again. Such a bonding experience.

Anyway, I have a blog in mind that I want to write... but it's going to be wordy, long, rambly, and artsy. So, I'm saying it for a bit. I will try to make it as comprehensive as possible, but this may not work.

Therefore, I will make this blog light and breezy easy (beautiful... Covergirl). What do you do to make a blog easy breezy? You make a list. So, without further ado :

Things I learned my first semester of college (purely non-academic):

[what a Chipotle burrito tastes like]

[it's not duck, duck, goose. it's duck, duck grey duck.]

[the quickest route to the emergency room]

[I actually appreciate Manitowoc]

[college isn't scary]

[Blasin' wings from bdubs are NOT "just their word for mild"]

[i need to improve my walking ability, so that i am not a suspected drunk]

[rain boots are necessary]

[the weekend starts on thursday]

[Redboxes save lives... or Friday nights]

[One month off is not as fantastic as it sounds]

[full meals are so inconvenient]

[tide to go works on carpets]

[you really CAN leave class at anytime, and no one will question it]

[10 AM classes across campus are too early]

Well, artsy fartsy blog coming soon. I wrote this blog a few days ago, so Andrew Philip was just born this morning, and now I am off to visit the new little man. :]

Rad: Births

Unrad: Not being able to walk a block and get a free latte whenever I so please.

Excuse Me, Life... Mind if I Take Advantage of You?

Happy December ladies and gentlemen. =]

Okay, so in the last week I have spent several hours working on my schedule and stressing about registration. I've devoured countless calories in the last few days as a result of registration stress, and had a minor breakdown last night from the result of everything building up.

Today, at 6:40 PM, the LAST registration opening possible.... I got to sign up for classes. Three of which had filled up since hours before. With a little last minute switching, and absolutely NO math courses available, I have my schedule for next semester.

I literally stressed out more about this than I am about my exams. This isn't right. BUT, it'll never be this bad again, so that's fantastic optimism for you right there.

So... I pretty much got the Harry Potter class. I mean, it's no big deal or anything. It's not like a jumped up and down, or told everyone I know, or made it my Facebook status, or immediately called friends, or anything. It's just another class.

The only thing in my schedule I'm less than excited about is that I didn't get any of the classes I wanted with friends. Oh, and also the fact that since I couldn't get into a math class it will n have been two full years of no math by the time I get into one next year. So, that's a little scary.

(You know what? I ALWAYS spell schedule wrong. Does anyone else have this problem? Hmm...)

A few hours ago, a friend informed me that it was snowing at a pretty decent rate. This made me happy, to know that next time I look out the window there would be a brand new layer of glistening white snow. However, I haven't looked out the window yet. I want to get the full effect. You know, like when you're writing a paper and you purposely wait to double space it so it's that much more exciting when you do? Yes. This is my relationship with the snowfall right now. It will be well worth the wait. Although, not quite as beautiful as this. Let's visit there someday, you and I. It can be a road trip... via plane.

Break officially starts in two days for me. Then Alyson comes. Then fun ensues. Then fun is slightly tainted with a goodbye that I am definitely not looking forward to. Oh life, you toss me so.

(Disclaimer: This paragraph includes rather girly links that men would probably find boring. I apologize if this does not interest you, men.)

So, I've been formulating my Birthday/Christmas list in the last few days, and I keep going back to one website. An unmentionable website. I should not even have thoughts to shop here in my head. Yet I keep looking. Tempting myself with things like this (favorite) or this. No! For I should not even be glancing at things like such. I should not be tempted by you. Oh, Anthropologie. You certainly do a number on my level of contentment.

Alright, time to glance at the snowfall before I say goodnight to the moon.

Rad: Studying for exams aloud in a variation of accents.

Unrad: Being last to register. Hands down.