The Shoes

The man was quite lost, and the man was confused,

so the man chose to go, but the man left his shoes.

And the girl sat in shock and encircled by fear,

but she would just smile and not cry her tears.

The girl kept on going but could not ignore

those brown leather shoes that he’d left by the door.

Yet the girl laughed and smiled and waved to the crowd,

because No One would love her if she cried too loud.

Her act was convincing and truly first class,

but all the hard work made the girl turn to glass.

Somehow, no one noticed; we each bear our crosses,

so people just worry about their own losses.

That glass girl kept shining, though the man was long gone.

And one day, a boy came and he tried the shoes on.

The shoes were too big, but the boy shuffled ‘round.

Some Grease got him started, and soon he had found

that the girl was so pretty. so fragile. so clear.

So he told her the things she’d been dying to hear.

“I promise that I will not break you.” he said.

“I will just hold your hand, and I’ll kiss your forehead,

and we’ll be together and you can just cry.”

The glass girl smiled wide, but her eyes were still dry.

Dry as the ocean, yet dry as a drought.

She wanted to, but she could not let it out.

The boy loyally wore those brown shoes that he’d found,

but they just did not fit and they made a clunk sound.

And the girl loved the boy but she hated the noise

of the brown leather shoes that were not the boy’s.

So she banished the boy, and then called him back,

then again made him Go! and the sky turned black.

All that she needed was to hold the boy’s hand,

but the shoes call the shots and the shoes’ orders stand.

And once the boy left her, then nothing else mattered.

The glass girl—she tripped over the shoes, and she shattered.

No Habla Espanol.

I'm going to post more soon, but just a real quick thought:

I don't speak spanish.

My Spanish class is really hard.

Quote of the Day: “And thus the whirligig of time brings in its revenges."--William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

How Did You Die?

I always hated poety until my junior year of high school when I had Mrs. Van Orden for English. She made us do a project that really changed my perspective, and now I really love to read poems. She's really made an impact in my life, and my love of poety is just one of many things I owe to her. I think, since I'm not the author, that I'm not really allowed to dedicate this poem to anybody, but if I could, it would be to Mrs. Van Orden.

How Did You Die?
By: Edmund Vance Cooke

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight -- and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?

My Canon

In the world of literature "The Canon" is a slippery term, defined differently by everyone, that basically describes "works of literary merit" that everyone should read in their lifetime. The "classics", such as The Scarlet Letter, Hamlet, and Lord of the Flies, are generally accepted in The Canon while the "Canonical Snobs" (as I call them) would laugh at the idea of the addition of The Hunger Games or Twilight. See the difference? Popular books vs. classical literature.

There is a place for both in this world and I'll fight anyone who denies that. We need exciting and compelling page turners that (let's be honest) might be written poorly, AND we need slower moving novels, impregnated with rich symbolism and universal truths, that may be simple in plot but are written with beautiful language that makes us better people. We need both.

So anyway, back to The Canon. As I mentioned earlier, The Canon is mostly a matter of opinion and in turn is a huge topic of debate in the literary field. SO: Today I'm presenting you with My Canon. This is a list of books that (for lack of a less cheesy phrase) have changed my life. Books that, in my opinion, are well written, contain more than surface meaning, and are better the more times you read them.

My Canon
Harry Potter
1984
Where the Red Fern Grows
Flowers for Algernon
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Kite Runner
Star Girl
Ella Enchanted
The Hiding Place
Fahrenheit 451
Les Miserables


*Please keep in mind that i AM an English major and so some of these books aren't "page turners" but "thought provokers." Also keep in mind that I am a normal person and so some of these books aren't "thought provokers" but "page turners." If you would like a more specific review of one of these books, comment, or text me and I'll tell you which ones you would like. :)

For Harry, Shelly, and the inspiring Jack Kelly

My new goal is post more...just so you guys know. (You guys as in, the three of you who actually read this blog.)

I don't have very much time to post right now but I decided to motivate myself by...posting...I mean, like...Carpe Diem! The goal is to post more so I've gotta seize the day right? Speaking of Seize the Day...Newsies is superb. Seriously.

Who would I be if I didn't mention my excitement at the upcoming final installment of the Harry Potter series? Wow...I almost just started crying. This is going to be one of the most monumental things to happen in human history. I have prepared. As mentioned in a previous blog post, if you haven't read the books then don't speak to me.

And now to the point of this entire post: A shout out to my homegirl Shells Fabs. One of the reasons I love her so much is because she has an appreciation for the finer things in this life, such as Harry Potter, Homestarrunner, and really old Disney Originals. She is a true friend and I can't wait for her to come home from...Oklahoma? (Is that where you are Shelly?) so we can watch Harry Potter together as it should be.

Quote of the Day: “But it is as we go onward in life, when objects begin to lose their freshness of hue and our souls their delicacy of perception, the spirit of beauty is most needed.”—Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Artist of the Beautiful

I Love Belt Loops

I started this list like...at the beginning of high school. It pretty accurately sums me up. I feel awkward just blogging about myself all the time but...I couldn't think of anything else to post, so here's my list of my Loves and my Hates. :)

I hate talking on the phone.
I hate liking the beginning of a book better than the ending.
I love the sound of thunder.
I love key changes.
I love it when little kids really like me.
I hate being jealous of people.
I love chocolate covered raisins.
I hate being replaced.
I love babies.
I hate not understanding math homework.
I love grand pianos.
I love hoodies.
I love really tight harmonies.
I love inside jokes.
I hate throwing up and still not feeling better.
I love good lessons in church.
I love candy canes.
I hate when people expect the worst from me.
I love having really good bonding experiences with people.
I love discovering things.
I love anything that gives me goose bumps.
I love the word panini.
I hate when people “give you a compliment” when really they’re just insulting you.
I hate when things that didn’t need to be changed get changed.
I hate when girls have “my thighs are fatter than your thighs” arguments.
I love the color yellow.
I love being trusted.
I love feeling the Holy Ghost.
I hate when people break commitments.
I hate when people hang up on me.
I love musicals.
I hate when people quote stuff wrong, or mess up the punch line of a joke.
I love belt loops.
I love loving a song the first time I hear it.
I hate when people don’t have integrity.
I hate when restaurants charge you extra for sauce.
I hate immature adults.
I love when my whole family is together.
I hate guys that have to hug you EVERY time they see you.
I hate sloshy grass.
I hate bad remakes/remixes to good songs.
I love the phrase, "finest hour." I hope mine's good.
I hate awkward situations.
I love good boys.
I hate when a song is stuck in my head for two weeks.
I hate the terms ‘goody-goody’ and ‘Molly Mormon.’
I love that music can make you feel any way you want to.
I love seeing my name spelled right.
I hate when you hear a really good song on the radio, but it ends right when you turn it on.
I love the first time it feels like a season. (first time it snows, first day its warm, first day your out of school, first day it’s crisp outside and you’re watching football.)
I love free tee shirts.
I hate seeing better parking spots you could have gotten as you’re walking into a building.
I hate when people have BO.
I hate being sad for no reason.
I love funny commercials.
I hate when you’re playing the piano and someone just starts playing at the same time as you.
I hate when people tell me how loud I am.
I hate when other people have power over my emotions.
I hate when people bring a bad attitude to everything they do.
I hate being lied to.
I love when people write me sincere notes, cards, or letters.
I love when people tell me something I really need to hear.
I hate when I overreact.
I hate finding out something bad about someone I had really respected.
I love cute pictures.
I love the Backstreet Boys.
I hate burning my tongue.
I hate when I care what people think.
I love when a friend listens to something you really need to talk about.
I love corduroys.
I love Converse.
I love when someone holds the door open for me.
I love the sound a soda can makes when you open it.
I love when my fortune cookie knows what’s up.
I love parking my car the same time that the song ends.
I love popping bubble wrap.
I love jeans that fit perfectly.
I love being missed.
I love when a baby holds my finger.
I hate high def TV.
I love hearing people cheer for me.
I hate feeling like I’m going to sneeze and then not sneezing.
I love watching my friends perform.

If you can think of anything else you KNOW that I love or hate, comment. :)

Quote of the Day: "Take these broken wings and learn to fly."--The Beatles

Esoteric

Esoteric: adj. Understood or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest. In other words, exclusive and cliquey.

Should I be offended that my brother just called me that? Nahhhhhhhhhh... :) Awhile ago he was complaining about my facebook statuses and how he never understands them...I was really confused because basically all they consist of are movie quotes and song lyrics.

SO I've decided to take this esoteric thing as a compliment. Basically I have fabulous taste and if you don't understand it you're gonna be missing out. My facebook statuses are an attempt to educate the masses on what's truly important in life: Queen, Emporer's New Groove, The Beatles, Musical Theater, Kelly Clarkson, and Harry Potter.

I'm posting some of my favorite quotes for you to enjoy. :) (...cuz I know you will.)


“Our lives become the stories that we weave.”
--Once on This Island

“If I could make something dead with my mind right now, it would be you.”
-What Happens in Vegas

“You’re a good person.”
-Shrimp from Shark Tales

“Who’s your favorite opossum??”
-A Goofy Movie

“You’re the banana king Charlie!” –Snowman Banana from Charlie the Unicorn 2

“The night is darkest just before the dawn.”
—Batman 2, The Dark Knight

“Let’s have a baby, la la la!”—Hilary Swank, P.S. I Love You

“Oh my gosh Karen you can’t just ask people why they’re white.”—Mean Girls

“Well what if there is no tomorrow!? There wasn’t one today!”—Bill Murray, Groundhog Day

“Each happy ending’s a brand new beginning.”—Carrie Underwood

Old guy: “That handle was made from the silver bullets fired at my grandfather by angry villagers.”
Dave: “…Oh that is special.”—Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman

“I want the rest of my life to feel just like a…HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!”—High School Musical 3

“You know what, I wish I was at an Arby’s right now; cuz there’s better food and cooler people!”—Baby Mama

“Those eggs were a lie Steven.”—Nacho Libre

“Well I didn’t actually say that to him…I thought it…in my mind. But if he coulda read my mind he woulda been like, ‘wha?”’—Kung Fu Panda

“Enough drama lil mama, I don’t wanna take your man.”—Fergie

“Everybody’s got a laughin’ place—trouble is, most folks won’t take the time to go look for it.”—Splash Mountain

“Smile darn you, smile!”—from Annie

“That day they decided that sneetches are sneetches. And no kind of sneetch is the best on the beaches.”—Dr. Seuss

“Open your mouth and sound off at the sky!
Shout loud at the top of your voice,
“I AM I!”
ME! I am I!
And I may not know why,
But I know that I like it
Three cheers, “I AM I!”—Dr. Seuss

“I don’t mean to be dramatic or anything but…I’d rather be shot in the face than eat this food.”—Baby Mama

“And I said to Dion, I said ‘Dion, who is this vision? Surely she must be the understudy to some fabulous broadway star.’”—George, My Best Friend’s Wedding

“First: Thou shalt take out the holy pin. Then: Thou shalt count to three; no more, no less. Three, shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four, shalt thou not count; neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three.”—Monte Python and the Holy Grail

“If God had intended everyone to be the same, he’d have given us all braces on our legs.”—Forrest Gump

“I’m the kinda G the little homies wanna be, like on my knees in the night sayin’ prayers in the streetlight.”—Coolio

“Put away the crack before the crack puts you away.”—Smash Mouth

“Something hit meh.”—Pete’s Dragon

“Your heart is full of unwashed socks.”—Mr. Grinch

"The dullest and most uninteresting person you know, may one day be a creature which, if you saw them now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. There are no ordinary people."
- C.S. Lewis

“I know you can be overwhelmed…and you can be underwhelmed…but can you ever just be whelmed?”
“I think you can in Europe…?”—10 Things I Hate About You

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne

“My nerves are shot, this is a catastrophe! What would her father say?? I’ll tell you what her father’d say, he’d say he’s gonna kill himself a CRAB, that’s what her father’d say! I’m gonna march meself straight home right now and tell him just like I should and don’t you shake your head at me young lady…”—Sebastian, The Little Mermaid

"We can't help that we popular."--The Black Eyed Peas

"Hey! What's goin on here? Who's the monkey??"
"Simba's gone to challenge Scar."
"Who?"
"Scar."
"Who's got a scar?"
"No, no, it's his uncle."
"The monkey's his uncle??"
"No! Simba's gone back to challenge his uncle to take his place as king."
"Ohhhhhh."
--The Lion King

"Trust me baby that raccoon would not have stopped for us."--Hot Rod

"We're all in this together."--High School Musical

"Cuz growing up is awfuller than all the awful things that ever were!"--Peter Pan

“Ariel! I was flying…and, well of course I was flying. And I saw…the, the watch! The witch! The witch was watchin the mirror, and she was singin with a stolen set of pipes!”—Scuttle, The Little Mermaid

"Hear my song. It's the one thing I have that has never let me down."--Jason Robert Brown

“To love another person is to see the face of God.”—Les Miserables

"Frederick. In this chapel are ancestors; you cannot deny. When I purchased the estate, I bought this chapel and its contents. I don't know whose ancestors they WERE, but I know whose ancestors they ARE."--Pirates of Penzance

"Hey Mr. Arnstein, here I am."--Funny Girl

"Yay I'ma llama again! ...Wait."--Emporer's New Groove

"And I, most jocund, apt and willingly, to do you rest, a thousand deaths would die."—Viola, Twelfth Night

"This is my hat now. This is totally my hat."--Hod Rod

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”—Les Miserables

“I want a man by my side, not a boy who runs and hides.”—Kelly Clarkson

“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”—Michael Jackson

“Beat me, hate me, you can never break me.”—Michael Jackson

“Anything less than the best is a felony.”—Vanilla Ice

"That corner house over there is the home of the Darling Family; and Peter Pan chose this particular house because there were people there who believed in him."—Peter Pan

“Sometimes, I guess, there just aren’t enough rocks.”—Forrest Gump

“It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.”—Batman

“And why do we fall Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.”—Batman

“Oh and Horton? One more thing…it took me seven weeks…but I found your clover too.”—Gertrude McFuzz, Seussical the Musical

“Rain will make the flowers grow.”—Les Miserables

“I consider it a challenge before the whole human race, and I ain’t gonna lose.”—Freddie Mercury

“I have negotiated my butt off Georgio.”—Mugatu, Zoolander

“So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause.”—Padme, Star Wars Episode III

“Take a sad song and make it better.”—The Beatles

“Remember George: No man is a failure who has friends.”—Clarence, It’s a Wonderful Life

“You be sayin I got…I got a good grade on my test with…I’m…best friends. Paper towels.”—Paper Towels

“And please bless that someone will adopt us soon. And that the mommy and daddy will be nice. And have a pet unicorn. Amen. …Unicorns I love them, unicorns I love them, uni uni unicorns…I loooove them. Uni unicorns… and I could pet one if they were really real…and they are! So I bought one so I could pet it. Now it loves me, now I love it, lalalalalalala.”—Despicable Me

"It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right."—Lemony Snicket

“And I am flawed; but I am cleaning up so well.”—Dashboard Confessional

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire Cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked. ‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response. ‘I don’t know.’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’”—Lewis Carroll

‘“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we Pooh?’ asked Piglet. ‘Even longer.’ Pooh answered.”—A.A. Milne

“What thou hast overcome will carry thee to God.”—Gustav Mahler

“Why waste a second not loving who you are?”—Natasha Beddingfield

“Just remember in the darkest hour, within your heart’s the power for makin you a hero too. So don’t lose hope when you’re forlorn. Just keep your eyes up on the skies—every night a star is born.”—Hercules

"Who am I?? We're in a WAR man, there's no time for stupid questions!"--Mushu