Adventure time.

I went on a lovely adventure with Emilia today. She had received a Pentax DSLR camera for Christmas and she turned to me for tips because apparently I'm the best photographer she knows. I'm also super duper sweetawesome*.

Thus my first, quote unquote, photography lesson to her was incorporated into this first proper hangout of ours since one day during the summer. We practiced by taking photos of the surroundings and portraits of each other. Here are some of my results.
The only downfall, if you want to call it that, was the fact the park was right near a village. That meant while standing and snapping photos on one of the docks, several characters came by. And when I say characters, I mean various homeless people. I noted they are often hard to talk to because of their eccentric-ness** though they're human, too and therefore aren't any less deserving of being talked to. One homeless man we encountered yelled "WHY YOU IN THE CORNER OVER HERE? YOU SMOKING POT?" to these two teenage guys, which made Emilia and I strain to contain our laughter. Next thing we knew, he was walking towards us, quoting Shakespeare. He then proceeded to take a swig of some unidentified alcoholic beverage whilst standing atop a bench. Emilia was quick to inform me friends had seen this fellow before and said his usual get-up is a cowboy hat complete with a cape. Like I said, eccentric***.
Emilia had us trekking back across this riverfront park in search for her lens cap she sworn she'd put in her bag, but ultimately was in her pocket. I did then -- and will continue to for the foreseeable future -- give her a hard time for it. We headed into the village to grab a bite to eat and continued chatting about our lives. We discussed her perceived persona as too-deep-for-you and mulled over the notion that you can't force friendships and one shouldn't be obligated to get to know someone better if one's not interested in doing so. We also reminisced about our respective childhoods as the kids of today swarmed the nearby playground. It's hard to believe that we're old enough to drive**** and how much more complicated our lives can become.

*I'm ego trippin'.
**Well, more so their drunkenness. And lack of proper hygiene.
***And drunk.
****Fun fact: despite being a grade younger than yours truly, Emilia will be licensed to drive before I am. I should probably get my learner's permit soon.

Lying in your attic, I can feel the static.

I feel like Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked me in the head and felt no remorse for doing so. The jerk. Basically, headaches, 101.4 fevers, sore throats and runny noses are not the best way to begin your winter vacation.

I must've slept approximately 18 hours on Saturday. That was exactly what I needed after a week of exams. Tuesday I had my art exam, which was literally just working on our latest project, a surrealistic watercolor painting based off a collage we composed. I've since taken it home to work on this break, but it remains untouched. I hate working on anything with tissues stuffed up my nostrils. I guess that's true for anyone.

Wednesday was interesting. I managed to miss setting my alarm and thus slept in until 9:30 a.m. At this time, I was supposed to be at school, already halfway through my physics exam. I woke up in a sheer panic and shouted expletives I need not repeat. I've had dreams of being tardy, but never, ever, in my life, have I actually overslept. My mom called the school and I got dressed quickly. Luckily, my physics teacher let me make up the exam after school, no hassle. Apparently all my classmates were freaking out that I wasn't there to originally take it, though. I also had my English exam that day, and since I put in a good effort, I should have an A. (There's no way our teacher was reading all our critical commentaries and our creative writing portion.)

Thursday was AICE Biology and AICE Math. AICE Bio was not nearly as difficult as I had thought it would be. Regardless, I'm pretty sure my semester grade is a B. B is for bummer. Math went alright and I learned I got an 85, which if I did my calculations right, means I was just three points short from earning an A for the semester. I can't seem to figure out if my teacher added in any extra credit or what.

Friday I had my Spanish 3 exam. That was fairly easy except that conjugations were muddled in my mind. I also had my AICE European History exam in the afternoon. I aced that bamf. Pfft, I didn't even need a word bank for those fill in the blank questions.

I am incredibly glad it's all over with and now I have the next two weeks or so to relax. It's hard to beat.

I've recently fallen in love with this song.


Good luck to everyone still toughing exams and Happy Holidays, everyone!

Oh, and another one comes down.

I was only a measly two days into the art-a-day challenge when I gave up, which is exactly what I did with NaNoWriMo. I'm disappointed in myself.

I'm also a mixture of disappointed and frustrated with myself because I waited so long to complete my glossary for history, which may sound easy, but is actually very time consuming. We must the select the 50 terms to define and state their significance. I think I just need to suck it up.

Anyway, here are some photos from the outfit I wore on Friday; I wanted to document it.

(jeans - j.c. penney's, jacket - kohl's, blouse - forever 21, belt - forever 21, boots - woman within)

Have a good Sunday.

Colorful leaves.

Untitled

Leaves collected from my backyard during Thanskgiving break on paper.

Fall usually starts in November in Florida,
and then there really is no winter because it never snows.
(Obviously.)
I guess it's a curse and a blessing.

Say hello to my furry friend.

I want to challenge myself this December.
I want to post a new piece of art everyday.
I'm hoping this will encourage me to continue creating art.
They'll more likely be entries from my visual journal and not always a major project like the drawing featured below, but you never know what I may be inspired to do, especially come December 18th when I start winter break.

Furry Friend

#2 HB pencil on paper
completed November 28th, 2010
*note: I have since darkened the values on the bunny.

Thank you.

Yeah, I forgot to give my hand-turkey wings.
It happens.
Happy Thanksgiving/Black Friday, everyone!
I am thankful for just about everything.
Except for football constantly being on TV.
That, my friends, I could live without.
Still, I'm glad my brothers are home.

Takin' care of business.

Is it really Sunday? Do I actually have school tomorrow? Having Thursday off as a holiday (Happy Veteran's Day?) but then still having school Friday has messed with my internal clock somehow. Oh, and Daylight Savings Time has been tripping me up, too. Strangely, I miss it being dark outside when I wake up at 7 a.m.

Bad news aside, I've been pretty content with my life. I'm looking forward to seeing both my brothers next week and generally just enjoying a proper break off from school. None of this on a day, off a day crap.
This, my dear friends, is a zentangle I made.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must go plan an epic scavenger hunt for Aniesa's birthday. Catch you cool cats on the flip side.

Time is fleeting.

Here are some photos I've taken and then neglected to share.

I hope everyone is well.

Robots in disguise.

Happy Halloween, (retroactively)!

Nikki's birthday is November 1st so for the past several years we've hung out/celebrated together. Last year we went and saw Paranormal Activity together. It might've made perfect sense to go see the sequel this year, but instead, I threw her an awesome Transfomers-themed party complete with an Optimus Prime cake (that I made and hand decorated, no less)...
...an Optimus Prime pinata that she refused to bust open...
...along with Trasformers-themed plates, napkins, noisemakers, cups...
...a Transformers tablecloth...
...and a Bumblebee light-up banner!
After all the excitement, we went trick-or-treating in her neighborhood. My candy haul was pretty bad this year. What gives!? Most popular candy received: Butterfinger.

Guess who gets to write an approximately four page analysis of Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses tomorrow in only 40 minutes? That's right; yours truly. I also have a math test and a physics lab due. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

P.S. I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. Pretty much I have no idea what possessed me to think that I'd be capable of writing a 50,000 word novel. You guys know I'm stressed as it is. I'm so silly. But, you should let me know if you're doing it as well. We can become writing buddies!

The roof, the roof. The roof is on fire.

Yesterday, as celebration for getting a perfect score on state standardized writing test, I went with fellow classmates (who achieved the same) to a Japanese steak house for lunch. Better yet, it was on the principal's dime. What an awesome experience! A man came out and used the hibachi grill and everything. If this sounds vaguely familiar, it is because I mentioned the prospect of being awarded with lunch during a vlog back in June.
They had amazing art there! I wish I could've gone around and taken more pictures of it, but that would've been borderline strange. Besides, then I would've missed the great debate over the symbolism represented in this particular piece. I remember hearing something about sky swans?
This is was delicious looks like. I had already begun to chow down on my fried rice before I took this picture and was eager to try the chicken. We were also served a side soup, a small salad with ginger dressing, and some cooked vegetables -- so yummy.

Well, I want to write more but I'm sick and thus sleep trumps blogging.

G'night.

Rainbow barfing pandas.

This past week was spirit week at school, which means if I felt like spending $25 to dance badly to songs I only vaguely know and watching guys and girls practically exchange STDs while participating in a grind train, I would be at homecoming right now. Alas, I figured going to dinner at Olive Garden with friends (all of whom were to attend homecoming later this evening, but that's beside the point) would be better. I wore a pretty outfit, then came home, watched Glee and thought about doing my physics homework but failed to actually complete it. Yet. Oh man, I also have math. Good thing it's only Saturday. (Scratch that, my mom just came into my room and glared at me after I told her I have not being doing homework. Sometimes, I think lying would be so much easier.)

Okay, I think that first photo needs an explanation now. Well, Thursday of spirit week was Noah's Ark Day or twin animal day. My friend Kaitlin and I decided to go as rainbow barfing pandas. It made sense to us. My make-up came out scarier than I thought it would, but I thought our outfits were awesome and creative. As you can imagine, we got mixed comments. One girl in my Spanish class asked if I was a lesbian panda and others certainly said or at least thought "wtf?" For all that face paint I had to wash off, I think it was worth it.

I've decided with the cooler weather that I want tights, berets and nail polish in my life. If Puja was reading this she'd say I sound like a such a girl and I wonder if that's a bad thing. So what if I want to have a fashion sense and say guys are cute and other girl-esque things? Saying that reminds me that I hardly ever talk about crushes or guys on here anymore, and in retrospect the main reasons I got an AOL blog in the first place was to have somewhere to write such things. I guess times are changing or I've just succumbed to writing ambiguous posts on tumblr that really only serve to prove I have no love life. Yeah, moving on.

The first quarter at school is already over and I got two B's on my report card. I feel like I could do better, though I know colleges only care about your semester grades. Still, lowered self esteem sucks.

Anyway, I wish I had more exciting things to fill you guys in on and I wasn't such a downer! Take care, everyone.

Sweetawesome 16.

My 16th birthday was on 10.10.10.
What an honor.
Seriously.
My birthday and its related festivities this past weekend served to remind me that my life is meaningful and that I have friends who love and care about me dearly.
I didn't do much on my actual birthday besides relax and respond to birthday wishes on Facebook, which was perfectly fine with me.
No stress (albeit temporary) is good, y'know?
Saturday, though, I saw The Social Network with good friends and then shopped with my mom.
Life is great.
I swear, outlook is everything.

Okay, no pretenses here.

Junior year is a living nightmare. Every morning I wake up at 7:00 am and by about 3rd period my brain is dead. Just as a taste for one of the projects I've had to complete: for our AICE Biology class, my friends and I spent almost all of last Saturday assembling the molecular structure of a protein chain out of styrofoam balls (that we hand painted) and pipe cleaners. We got an A for our effort, thank goodness, but then not as much time was left for completing work from any of the other six classes. Yes, I am severely envious of the kids I babysit. No homework on Fridays. That was the life.

As if the workload itself wasn't enough, I am now doing math tutoring, Science Bowl coaching, book club, Academic Team, Model Student Senate and possibly chess club if people choose to start it up again even though the leader, my brother, graduated. This leaves only Monday and Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons open. Friday evenings are likely to be spent babysitting and possibly Saturday night as well. I have no time to blog as much as I'd like. This weekend I plan to relax.

Despite saying I'd attend this year's homecoming a year ago, I decided it was not worth the $25. I'd rather put that money into my Scotland trip fund or my DSLR camera fund.

This is my zentangle! Everyone in my art class did a section. (As always, you can click to enlarge.)
I'm off to go have a sweetawesome weekend, starting with going to go see The Social Network with Puja, Patricia and Joy in minutes. Oh, and did I mention tomorrow is my sweet 16?

Flood.

It's been raining almost non-stop this whole afternoon/evening/night. Though it was much needed precipitation, it was too gloomy outside.

I feel like there's a tremendous amount of ketchup to be done on this blog. You know, to bring it up to speed. I'm afraid I can't mustard the energy to talk about every little thing that's gone on. I'm making pitifully bad buns. (Heh heh heh.)

Thanks everyone for the reassurance that I'm not a terrible artist! I appreciate the support.

I keep hoping things will calm down so I can breathe. I also want cooler weather. Yesterday, I wore a beret to try to celebrate fall.

I'm on the pursuit of happiness.

I realize I neglected to tell you guys much of anything these past two weeks. I was shocked I hadn't even mentioned that I went to Providence, Rhode Island for four days to drop off my brother at Brown University.

And, at the moment, I have nothing else to say besides that my brother saw Emma Watson earlier today at Brown.

Weathervanes and clocks.

Merpanda!

From top to bottom: my AICE European History book (for this semester), my 2011 PSAT practice book, my AICE Math book (again, for this semester) and my AICE Biology book. Oh, what did I get myself into? Everyone says junior year is the toughest and now I know why. The pressure is on.

I've been studying for a physics test I have tomorrow and you know what? I decided I needed a break and I shall spend it blogging...about school. What can I say? It's beginning to consume my life again. I can argue with myself about whether or not this is a good thing later.

My lunch got switched. I now sit with Puja, Jackie, Patricia, etc. instead of Emilia, Zack and Kyle. While I was not really happy with my original lunch arrangement, I had just gotten adjusted to it. Of course Aniesa got switched as well so I still don't see her. Oh, wait, she transferred into my math class.

Speaking of math class, I LOVE it. It goes by so quickly! I'm starting to enjoy the subject again after two years of absolute misery. No, no, I'm not kidding. Absolute misery. Just reference any post I put up on here circa 2009 and I bet you'll find a gripe about my test grades and/or the teacher. Man, it may be petty in the grand scheme of things, but life has gotten so much better now. I got a 79 on my first math test, yet no worries. You see, we're covering a new chapter every week and thus taking a test every week so I have that many more chances to improve my average.

I went to Target this past Friday to help my brother get school supplies he'll need for college and of course I found a notebook I wanted.
Garrett and I decided in Physics that he's a merpanda because those paws look suspiciously like a mermaid's fin. I will gladly take suggestions for a name of this merpanda in the comments, haha.

Keep enjoying the rest of your summers!

Fizicks awaits.

This is the beginning of the end.

This was my outfit for today, the first day of school.

(dress - charlotte russe, cardigan - kohl's, black bike shorts - target, shoes - forever 21, necklace - modcloth, belt - kohl's.)

My first day as a high school junior was not extraordinary, but, being the nerd I am, I definitely did have fun.
I wish I had nickel for every time the teachers said, "you're in college, now," when that is only partially true.
I would write more if on my darn space bar wasn't being a jerk.
You see, I tried to fix it and yet I only managed to make it worse, if not ruined entirely.
Yeah...

Well, I hope everyone is still enjoying their summers!

Oh, I am never on my way.

Yesterday I went to the mall with Erin, a good friend from 8th grade.

I had not seen her in practically forever!
Needless to say, a hangout was long overdue.
We talked, ate pretzels, and just generally enjoyed each others' company.
I also bought a set of overpriced no-show socks from Journeys.
I only wish that Kai could've joined us, too.

I have one week left of summer before I start school again.

I just accidentally posted this on mix tape.

That hiatus I took was even shorter than I imagined it would be. The days went by too fast. I have not accomplished all that I dreamed I would at this point. Oh, well. It's summer and I'm lazy. At least my desk is more or less clean! That is if you discount all the various art supplies strewn atop it.

I got back from my friend Regina's birthday party/sleepover an hour or so ago. We had watched Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Hercules and The Emperor's New Groove (while snacking on delicious, homemade rice krispy treats of course) as part of pseudo-movie marathon last night. We played a pretty fun game of Apples to Apples, too. I was not tired at all, and thus stayed up until about 5 am, talking and laughing with three other girls who had the same problem going to bed. It was great. The waffles, bacon and orange juice for breakfast were heavenly.
I made this Mockingjay pin for Regina because she loves that The Hunger Games books and I wasn't sure what else to get her besides dollar bills that I creatively packaged and then hid about her room. She loved both.

Now I want to make a pin for myself, or for other people, like Scarlett, who has recently fallen in love with the trilogy. Anyone else interested?

I will catch up with everyone's blog posts soon. I missed everyone, even though I was only gone for, what, five days?

P.S. I'm watching season one of Heroes on DVD. So, so good. Apparently season two is crap, though. Is that true?