Day fifty-four: Neither Angels nor Demons

I love having Discipleship lunch every Monday. It's just a nice break from life and such. Today, we talked about Romans 1-8, because that's what we were supposed to read over the past two weeks. There was one particular verse that spoke to me today. It's one of my all time favorites, actually. It's just so powerful and it makes me feel like I'm never alone. I don't know. I just love it. So I decided to write it awesomely on my mirror like I do all words that make me happy. So here you go.

If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

Day fifty-three: Waterworks

Yet another video that needs no words on my part. Videos like these are always so touching. It came out of nowhere. I was just watching the AMAs, laughing at how amazing Taylor Swift is, and then this commercial came on. At first, I wasn't sure where it was going, but then, at the end, it was like BAM! Waterworks. It was quite amazing. Sometimes, even though I hate walmart, I have to love them. XD

There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again. 

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

Day fifty-two: We may be weird, but we're the coolest

Today was the last home game of the year. I've missed a few home games, but overall, my first semester in the MOB has been wonderful. I met two of the best friends ever, and I've had lots of fun. The UT game was my favorite, though. We were all squished into a tiny section, but we screamed and cheered and had a grand old time. The UH game was also fun. We got to dress as zombies and even though it rained, it was wonderful. And the losing wasn't too bad. XD

My favorite part of the game is when we pull out the big green sign. You'll just have to watch for yourself. (Watch between 2:06 and 3:03)

If you like nerds, raise your hand. If you don't, raise your standards.
Violet Haberdasher

Day fifty-one: Just So Bad

Breaking Dawn was horrible.

"Then why would you make a post about it?" you all wonder. Well, I shall tell you.

It's amusing, and I ended up having a great time. My roommate, Katri, and I made shirts to wear (which we never got a picture of...sad day). On the front, it said "Team guy who almost killed Bella with his car" and on the back it said "Jingle Bells, Edward smells, Jacob is okay, Bella yucks, Twilight sucks, POTTER ALL THE WAY (long live Cedric Diggory)." XD The first hour of the movie was SO FUNNY! I laughed my butt off. The second hour was horrible and hard to get through, but at least I had a great time. Even though they had no intention of making that movie humorous in any way, I'm glad that it was, because it provided an hour of stress relief from my life. :)

 

The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed.
 Nicolas De Chamfort

Day fifty: Discovery

Today, I got to play with real human skeletons.

Actually, it was mainly just skulls, but it was so cool! I had to do a lab for my physical anthropology class. We learned how to identify a person based on markers on their skulls and pelvises, and in the lab, that's what we had to do. I spent two hours observing and analyzing four skulls and three pelvises. I had to give sex, age, and ancestry. I felt like Dr. Brennan. :)

The coolest thing during the lab was the station where I had to determine the age of a child. While it was a little sad I was holding an actual child's skull, looking at the teeth was really neat. If you looked at the jaw, you could see the permanent teeth starting to come in on the front and you could see the second molars forming in the back of the jaw. It wasn't a full grown tooth; it was still developing. I think it's amazing that we can look at bones and be able to tell who people were and what they did. There's a great scene between Bones and Angela in the pilot of the show Bones that kind of captures the essence of what I'm saying. Lemme see if I can find a youtube video. :D

...okay, so I can't find one. And I was just gonna video it myself, but my sound on my computer crapped out again. Bah. Oh well. Maybe I'll put it up eventually. :D

Bah. And I can't even find the quote I'm looking for either. Fail. This is just a fail. Oh well...

Day forty-nine: Affirmation

This is one of those times where words aren't really necessary. Basically, I was super stressing out about my paper, my school life, my social life, etc, etc, and I just really needed to get my priorities straight. So I watched this video, and everything was better. :D

It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. 
Claude M. Bristol

Day forty-eight: Enchanted

I know, enough with the Taylor Swift stuff. But I can't help it. You know when a song just connects with you because it's totally relevant to your life? Well, that's what happened today. So I'm just going to leave the lyrics and leave you all wondering. :)

There I was again tonight
Forcing laughter, faking smiles
Same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity
Shifting eyes and vacancy
Vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you

Your eyes whispered "Have we met?"
Across the room your silhouette
Starts to make its way to me
The playful conversation starts
Counter all your quick remarks
Like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you
All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you

The lingering question kept me up
2 AM, who do you love?
I wonder 'til I'm wide awake
And now I'm pacing back and forth
Wishing you were at my door
I'd open up and you would say
It was enchanting to meet you
All I know is I was enchanted to meet you

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you

This is me praying that
This was the very first page
Not where the story line ends
My thoughts will echo your name
Until I see you again
These are the words I held back
As I was leaving too soon
I was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, blushing all the way home
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonder-struck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you know
I was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you

~Taylor Swift, "Enchanted"

Day forty-seven: Justice

I love books. I also love movies. But oftentimes, I don't like books turned movies.

Harry Potter did an okay job. Time Traveler's Wife just sucked. Twilight...well, they did well with what they had, didn't they? It's always unfortunate, though, when a great book or series just flops as a movie. Like Percy Jackson. Goodness, what a mistake. I was hoping and praying that the Hunger Games wouldn't  be another Percy Jackson. The trailer came out today, and I've watched it like 59 times.

I am so excited.

I literally cried during the part where Katniss volunteers herself (although I'm having a rough week, so the tears were already ready). It looks super amazing, and it looks like they've really got a good movie on their hands. I've only read the book once (I definitely plan on rereading it at least once before the movie) but I think they've done a great job translating it to the screen, from what I can tell. They might actually do the book justice, which would make me SUPER HAPPY! Everyone should read the book. And see the movie. Okay? :)

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Day forty-six: Princess

I went to the Renaissance festival today, and I had a great time. I got to wear my Elizabeth dress that was made almost four years ago for the midnight showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. I bought one of those flower garlands when we got there, and I just have to say, I felt like a princess. I felt so pretty, and it was nice. Sometimes,everyone needs to feel like that. I've been kinda in a slump lately for lots of reasons. I think it's the end-of-semester blues. But today was nice. And now I'm watching Princess Diaries. Man, I love Anne Hathaway. XD I should be working on homework, but I'm so pooped, and I think I need a bit of a break before this horrid week coming up. Yeah?

To look almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain for the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive.
Jane Austen

There are certainly not so many men of large fortune in the world, as there are pretty women to deserve them.
Jane Austen 

I couldn't resist those Jane Austen quotes. I love her. And apparently write like her too. :) 

Day forty-five: Growing Up

So I know it's a little late, but I just wanted to take this moment to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!!!! Sweet sixteen, when did you grow up? Seriously! I remember when you were a baby. The day you were born, I was so excited. You were my greatest playmate growing up. I remember when we used to wake up at like 7 in the morning on the weekends. We didn't want to wake up mom and dad, so we sat on on of our beds and played UNO til they came and found us. I remember every Christmas morning, we'd wake up SUPER early, sometimes a full two hours before mom and dad told us we could leave our rooms, and wait together. I remember playing cars with you, listening to Hit Clips with you (remember those? :D), listening to your "army song" and singing and dancing, writing and filming a movie starring our build-a-bears, and so much more. You're sixteen years old, and you may not think I'm as cool as you once did, but I know you love me the same. You're so grown up, and I can't believe how big you've gotten. You're the coolest brother ever, and I'm so lucky that you're my brother. :)

Little

All grown up

There's no other love like the love for a brother.  There's no other love like the love from a brother. 

Terri Guillemets

 

To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other's hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time.  Clara Ortega

Day forty-four: Endings

On 11/11/11, the very last Harry Potter movie came out on DVD. I had to accept it: Harry Potter is officially over. I'm part of the Harry Potter generation. I grew up with Harry. I remember when I was in first or second grade, my dad read me the first Harry Potter book as a bedtime story, a chapter a night. I remember when we got to the chapter about quidditch, Dad read the name "Katie Bell" and I thought he was just messing around, since that was my nickname. I was in the book. :) Voldemort gave me nightmares at first, and I was convinced that Hermione and Ron were in love (I'm good XD). I think I cried the moment I found out that they were making my favorite series into a movie. I did my research, and I found out everything about all the actors and actresses that were going to be in the movie. I thought Dan was perfect for Harry, I thought Emma and I were buds, because her birthday is the day before mine, Rupert seemed silly, but made a great Ron, and I fell in love with Matthew Lewis (Neville). I had a little crush on him back then. That year, I dressed up as Hermione. I bought the Griffindor robes, and I painted my own tie. I remember going to the movie the very first day it came out. I went with my friend Alex, and our parents took us out of school early so we could go sit in line. We were dressed up in our costumes. At the end of the movie, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione boarded the train back to London and Harry said, "I'm not going home, not really," and the final melody played on French horn, I couldn't help but tear up. I was nine years old, and I was the happiest girl on the planet.

Almost ten years later, I refused to read any spoilers about the movie. Every time the trailer played, I got teary eyed. I used my graduation robes as a costume, with a Ravenclaw patch, and my mom made me radish earrings and a butterbeer cork necklace. I had my spectrespecs, my wand, my Quibblers, and my Harry Potter TOMS. I was Luna, even though I didn't have blonde hair. :D Of course, this was before I became a proud Hufflepuff. Before the midnight showing, I had my handmade painted Potter Generation shirt and I got to the theater at 5. After hanging out at Barnes and Noble with Maggie and Alex, we went to Chick-fil-A and then changed into our costumes. We got in line and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, the moment came, and we went into the theater. We had awesome seats, and we couldn't be more excited. The lights dimmed, and the movie started. It quickly turned into a sobfest (especially the Snape scenes). I had a kind of fangirly moment when Ron and Hermione kissed, and I was a little angry when Harry didn't fix his old wand with the elder wand. But at the very end, the 19 years later part, the grown up Harry, Ron, and Hermione watch as their children ride off to Hogwarts in the train, and the same theme with the French horn played in the background. I was nineteen years old, and I sobbed and sobbed. My childhood was officially over.

Many cultures have a rite of passage that children must go through to join the adult world. For my generation throughout the world, seeing the last movie was our rite of passage. Just as Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew up and left Hogwarts, so did we all. But as sad as growing up is, I have to see it as bittersweet. Yes, we had to leave Hogwarts in our childhood, it taught us so many things that we can take with us for the rest of our lives.

And, of course, we can always enjoy those guilty pleasures like Muggle Quidditch.

2001

2011

Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.

J.K. Rowling

Day forty-three: Long Live

You guys are getting tired of Taylor, I know. I know. I'm still coming down from my Swift high. XD And, okay, she deserves this post. So get over it. Because she's the CMA ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR!!!!! And while that's amazing and all, that's not really going to be the main focus of this post. I will mention that her reaction to winning was so adorable, and she was just so happy and genuine. I love her. :D

1. I love how she waves at the camera and says hi. She's so funny.
2. She thanks her fans. She loves us. And that's just cool.
3. Awww Mama Swift is just so happy. :]
4. She has the guts to thank Justin Beiber and Nelly at a country music awards show. XD

I know haters gonna hate and all. I understand their arguments. "Taylor isn't a country artist anymore really." Yes. "She's not that great of a singer." Yes. "There are other talented people out there who deserve to win awards too." Yes. But the title is Entertainer of the Year. Speak Now didn't win best country album. It's not country. She didn't win best female vocal artist. She won Entertainer of the Year. If you go on youtube and watch some of the clips from her concerts, you have to agree that she's there to entertain. She's got acrobatics, ballet dancers, tap dancers, a flying balcony, fireworks, video clips, the whole shebang. Her concert is a flat out show. She entertains. So, yes, I think she deserves the title Entertainer of the Year. And all you haters, all you're ever gonna be is mean.

But the main point of this post (yeah I got ranty. Sorry XD) is that Taylor Swift went up at a country music awards show, where people were dressed up in princess dresses and nice tuxes, and sang a song on a couch dressed in blue jeans and a sweater. I love how no matter how famous she gets, or how many awards she wins, she can just go back to being herself. The performance wasn't exactly flawless... she's recovering from being sick, and no, she's not the best live performer. But she has so much heart, and that song is beautiful. She got a standing ovation. Taylor Swift, you go girl. :)

We are the kings and the queens
You traded your baseball cap for a crown
and they gave us our trophies
and we held them up for our town
And the cynics were outraged
Screaming "This is absurd"
'Cause for a moment a band of thieves
in ripped up jeans got to rule the world.
Taylor Swift

Don't you worry your pretty little mind
people throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard
Taylor Swift

Day forty-two: Nerdy

Since it is day 42, I figured that this post should be equally nerdy. :D I was feeling a little down today. Not really sure why... just woke up grumpy. So I asked my besties if they had any good youtube videos to share with me, and Jessica gave me this gem. And I then spent like an hour and a half watching the whole series. Day. Wasted. Again.

Good thing it's only six, and I have plenty of time to get other stuff done, right? Right?

Anyway, I'm like in love with these videos. Hank and Katherine are just adorable and hilarious. It is now a requirement that my future husband must be okay with playing video games horribly with me and recording them and putting them on youtube. :D THEY'RE JUST TOO CUTE! :D

Alright guys. Don't get too addicted to Hank and Katherine. Just warning ya! Hopefully since I've watched all nine, I'll be able to work on my *cough15pagecough* term paper rough draft that's due in a week. That I haven't really started... O.o

The relationship between husband and wife should be one of closest friends. 
B. R. Ambedkar

Day forty-one: Accomplishments

LAKE TRAVIS BAND IS THE FIFTH BEST 4A BAND IN THE STATE!

I am just so UNBELIEVABLY proud of you guys. You've worked so hard, and you totally deserve this. I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there, but I know that it was amazing. You guys are amazing. :)

Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.
Alfred A. Montapert

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
Napoleon Hill

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure.
Colin Powell

Day forty: Catching Up

Today was beautiful in that I caught up on nearly TWO WEEKS of posts. Ahhh! I'm so sorry guys. I feel like I'm kind of defeating the purpose of the blog, but ehhhh. If I do it eventually, I think it should count. Because, maybe someone will stumble upon my blog and read something that makes their day. So I'm catching up. I've got a few days left to get, but after that I'll be good!

Today was also beautiful because I've started a health kick again, and I decided to make a yummy fruit salad for dessert. I've been obsessed with coconut lately. XD So I had my yummy fruit salad, my physical anthropology lab, and Bones. What could be better, eh? :D

If you start soon enough, you won't have to run to catch up.
Unknown

Day thirty-nine: Fighting Dragons

I'm apparently still on a Taylor Swift high, and so I feel the need to relate everything to a song. But this is actually fitting. I found this website a while ago, but I just remembered it so I thought I'd share it. It's so adorable. I wouldn't recommend watching the video at the end. It's like five minutes of nothing. But the rest of it is sooooo adorable. :D

Adorableness <3

I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
Taylor Swift

Day thirty-eight: Remember the Fifth of November

TAYLOR SWIFT PART TWO!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, Taylor is so amazing in concert. That night was just as amazing as the first one. Here's ten reasons why:

1. Minute Maid Park is amazing. It's so giant, and it was a cool feeling hearing 42,000 other people sing along to the same song.
2. I had a yummy pretzel.
3. I got to see NEEDTOBREATHE!!! I got to hear my favorite song EVER performed live! Something Beautiful. :)
4. Found out later that Sara Bareilles was standing within ten rows of us. Go figure.
5. Taylor is amazing live (even if she says the same things each concert). :)
6. Floor tickets are amazing. Even if people just stand there and don't sing. I still looked like a crazy, but I loved every minute of it.
7. I got to see her on the tree!
8. She sang Never Grow Up, and I didn't break down and cry. Even though I really wanted to.
9. SHE WALKED RIGHT BY ME! Literally, she was feet away. But she was on the wrong side. Still... It made me really happy. It was a dream come true. And her mom walked by, and I waved and she waved back. So that was awesome, too. :)
10. Nelly performed! So T-Swizzle made an appearance.

Leaving the concert was a little sad. It was like leaving Disney world. But that's okay, because one day I'll get to meet her. Hopefully. :)

I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest. So say it. Or say it to yourself in a mirror. Maybe it will come out in a letter you'll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying 'I could've, but it's too late now.' There is a time for silence. There is a time for waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you'll know it.I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now. 
Love, Taylor

Day thirty-seven: Unstoppable

I love Quidditch. I really do. For many reasons. Obviously, I love anything that has to do with Harry Potter. It's just a fun game, and a fun way to exercise without feeling like a hamster. The people I've met through it are great, and I know that once we start playing against other schools, I'll meet even more cool people. But most importantly, Quidditch is helping me gain confidence. I've never been an athletic person. Ever. I danced for ten years when I was little, I rode horses, and then I joined band. There were no team sports for me. It was just me. Well, I suppose marching band is a team effort, but it's a completely different playing field (pun intended). Quidditch is the first team sport I've played. And even though it's a little unconventional, it's teaching me many things about myself and my capabilities. One great thing about Quidditch is that there's a place for everyone. Somewhere deep inside, you're a chaser, or a seeker, or a beater, or a keeper, or even a snitch. You may have to try each position a few times to find the one that's right for you, but there's a place for you in Quidditch. And it's been a great ride trying to find what I should be. I'll admit, I've been through a few stages of interest. At first, I wanted to be a beater, because I thought it'd be cool to be that kick butt girl beater. But then, I thought it'd be really cool to be a chaser, mainly because I'm Katie Bell(e), and the Griffindor Katie was a chaser, too. So, most practices, I chose to be a chaser or a keeper. I'm a decent shot at best, and I'm okay at defending the hoops. I knew from the start I wasn't going to be a seeker...I'm no track star. But, one day, after having a great time playing defense in a chaser game, I decided to try beating again. And bam. I'm a beater.

I'm not that great of a beater yet. I've still got a long ways to go. But one of the captains sent me a text message after practice that just really meant a lot to me. She said that our "coach" of sorts said that if I could get faster, I could be an unstoppable beater. Even though it's not a conventional compliment, it's one of the best compliments I've received, because for the first time in my life, I see myself being potentially good at a sport. Who, me? Wow. Never thought it'd happen. Needless to say, it's a confidence boost. I'm going to work on my speed and endurance, and I'm gonna be an unstoppable beater. Better than that other girl from LSU who kicked butt. She was awesome. :D

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
Aristotle 

Day thirty-six: Everything Happens Eventually

BONES SEASON SEVEN!!!! Heck yes!

Now, I know that these are fictional characters. And yes, I only started watching Bones at the end of last season. But I have watched every episode AT LEAST once (some probably more than ten times...hehehee) and I have to say this:

I'm so glad they're finally together.

It was just meant to be from the very beginning. It had to be. Opposites attract. You can't fight that force forever (seven years is not forever :D). And, I'll admit, I was a little disappointed that we didn't really see any Booth and Bones interaction in the last two episodes of the last season. And, I'll admit, I was a little worried that this season would be all about babies and BB would have nothing to argue about and everything would be peachy and conflict-free like the end of Breaking Dawn (yuck). I don't want BB to be a nicely wrapped package. That's not who they are, and if that happened, I'd be disappointed. But all of my fears were assuaged after watching the first episode of season seven. I was very impressed with the way everything was handled, and I was excited for the prospects of seeing BB start their new life together, and also seeing the Hodgela baby (who is absolutely ADORABLE!). So, basically what I'm saying is, YES!

When you love someone, you open yourself up to suffering. That's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable. That's the burden. Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens which allow us to fly. 
Bones

Day thirty-five: Placeholder

11/2

Day thirty-four: Still Proud, but Still Messed Up

I love being a Hufflepuff. But I do have to acknowledge the weird side of my house. Example: Hufflepuff is still a strange word in other languages. Except Romanian. I'M AN ASTROPUF!

....Anyway, just watch between 1:19 and 2:28.

I love how the word looks kind of WTF. And that's exactly what you think when you hear it. :D

There's nothing wrong with being a loser, it just depends on how good you are at it.

Unknown