Things I like lately #2

a mix of the top 25 pop songs of 2009

and a song created by using the sounds of a jeep

Things I like lately #1

Cranberry Juice
Yeah yeah I know I sound like an old person but when you get kidney stones and UTIs don’t say I didn’t warn you. But while those are good (though mildly gross) reasons to drink cranberry juice they aren’t why I love it. I love it because.. well I mean it’s just kind of perfect. Now let’s get this straight: CranApple, CranGrape, Cranberry Cocktail, and whatever else is not and will never be good. Those “beverages” taste like sugar water. BLEH. Cranergy is basically perfection. It’s juice, it’s an energy drink, it’s located in my fridge. Yes sir. It doesn’t get better than that.

Movie Magic

I absolutely love going to the movies. If you are a friend or even just an acquaintance of mine I have probably invited you to go to the movies with me. Seeing movies is in my top five favorite things to do. I love everything about the movies; the previews, the popcorn smells, the loud surround sound, the lighted walkways, just everything. I have a favorite place to sit in a theater and often when I go to movies with friends they have other places they like to sit. I will definitely compromise and sit in the back or even a little to the side though I will never ever sit in the front row. I’m not interested in neck pain. I love love love to sit in the middle of the middle. The best seat in the house is right where the screen fills up your entire line of vision and you are perfectly center. That’s the ticket folks.

Now there are always dry spells in Hollywood when they just aren’t putting anything good on the screens. Oh another Ninja movie? Oh do you want to go see that cartoon movie where the astrodog saves the world? No sir. Not interested. But to counter these dry spells Hollywood also presents its audience with occasions when there are at least 5 movies out that are must sees. And then we just have to make the time to see every single one of them.
So let’s talk about some good movies I’ve seen lately: (in no specific order)
Sherlock Holmes: Holy Crap. Jude Law? Yes. Witty Banter? Yes. Rachel McAdams? Yes. Classic yet Riveting Story? Yes. I mean does it get better. I would definitely pay good money to see this movie a second time. This movie was perfection.

Avatar: Yes it is the same story as Pocahontas and Fern Gully but the visuals were incredible. This was a turning point for movies. Only 30 minutes of the entire 2.5 hour movie were filmed with real actors and sets. The rest was a computer rendered fantasy. And it was spectacular. I want to live in Pandora where everything you touch glows and dragon(ish) things are waiting for you.

Leap Year: Yes we have all seen this plot before. Yes the clichés are abounding. Yes the Irish accents will make your heart skip a beat. But the best thing about this movie is the smile that you leave the theater with. The hope that it instills in you that no matter how bad things go you will find someone to “not make plans with”. The happy ending is what makes this movie worthwhile.

Brothers: Warning: This isn’t a happy movie. Throughout the entire movie you just want to scream at Tobey Maguire while simultaneously falling in love with Jake Gyllenhaal (like you weren’t already). This movie really made you think which is probably why I enjoyed it.

Did You Hear About the Morgans?: While ultimately a forgettable movie it does have some high points. Hugh Grant is hilarious and wonderful as usual. The premise of a seperated husband and wife falling back in love is one that will leave you smiling and happy especially when combined with the actual ending of the movie. It’s cute and will make you smile and laugh but it’s not one that you’ll be talking about for weeks to come.

Nine: Um. I would definitely not go see this one again. It was like a musical about the behind the scenes of Moulin Rouge/Phantom of the Opera. It had some high points but nothing strong enough to make it a good movie even though the set and choreography were very good. Instead of a love story the audience gets a tragic tale of a man’s ultimate demise.

Law Abiding Citizen: Loved it. But honestly mix Gerard Butler, a court room, and lots of flashy unexpected explosions and effects and I’m hooked. My favorite scene in the entire movie is this one, (warning:there is some foul language in this video especially the last few seconds)

Up In The Air: Two words: George Clooney. Yes sir, that was enough to get me to this movie. This was a very interesting take on our modern day romance. How we have a social clock for everything from jobs to when we should marry. I predicted the ending but my heart still broke for George Clooney’s character as he realized his own seclusion from everything he wanted.

Mid-Senior Year Crisis

I’ve had this strange feeling for awhile, the feeling that I need to try and experience everything as soon as possible. I want to lose my apprehensions and be more spontaneous. These are the years I have to live the unrestrained life because I’m not in the “real world” yet and I don’t have all of the responsibilities that I will have after college. I want to try new things, I want to work hard, I want to get my hands dirty, I want to smile, I want to cry, I want to scream at the top of my lungs with the windows down just because. So here I am writing the proverbial bucket list of things I want to do as soon as possible or am in the process of doing.
-Join a basketball team-
Check, We’re halfway through our season and I haven’t had this much fun in awhile.
-Learn to play the guitar-
Bought one today and after 2 hours of fiddling around all I have is sore fingers but I’ll figure this thing out
-Join a tennis team- In the process, I’m going to join a LATA Spring team with my friend Joy
-Get a tattoo
-Get my nose pierced
-Learn to cook
-Go on a long road trip
-Complete the 30 Day Shred
-Learn to save money and to control my spending urges
-Learn Latin and Spanish
-Skydive- Hopefully this will be happening this Summer
-Get involved in a Bible Study
-Get to State for Mock Trial one last time
-GRADUATE
These are just a few things that I want to do as soon as possible. I hope that I can manage to accomplish not only these goals but even more that I haven’t even thought about. I want to live life loudly.

The End & The Beginning

The End
Now today was the first day of my last semester of high school. Seriously. I think the only way things could possibly be better would be if I was taking really easy classes but hey, you win some you lose some. This is it. This is my LAST semester here. Things are never going to be the same after these 90 days. And although I’m going to enjoy the change and the new experiences I’m going to make sure I don’t take a single one of these 90 days for granted. I will remember every day that I walk through those doors that the days are numbered. It’s a good thing, it’s a sad thing, and it’s an exciting thing.

The Beginning
I sent in my deposit for College of Charleston. I have officially made my decision and next year I will be a freshman at CofC. Whew. That’s a huge weight off of my shoulders. I applied to six different schools: Florida State, Birmingham Southern, University of South Carolina, Clemson, College of Charleston, and Presbyterian. I now just need to figure out who I’ll be rooming with, what doorm I’ll be living in, what my major is, how I’m going to pay for it, and how I’m going to get around without my car. No worries, right? But regardless of those uncertainties there is the one outstanding truth: I am officially a College of Charleston Cougar.
Thank goodness.

BEARS

This post will be full of ambitious goals and promises. Let’s make it happen.
So the title is dealing with two events in my life lately. The first bear would be the syndrome that a lot of us are facing around this time of year. Winter Bear Syndrome. Yes sir, I said it. Now I’m not judging because I also have this syndrome. Bascially this entails all of those extra fast food trips, cake, holiday food, and just bad for you foods that we have a tendency to eat more of during these winter months. To bulk up and keep us warm. Or you know something along those lines. BUT NO MORE. That’s right. Today, well tomorrow, signals the end of the Winter Bear. Thanks to my friend Jillian Michaels and her 30 day shred video and my commitment to not eat out for a MONTH. Woah. I just went there. I’m kicking you to the curb Winter Bear.

The other type of bear that the title refers to would be the bears around Gatlinburg, TN. I just got back from a 4 day 3 night mountain excursion. You know how they say that Gatlinburg is like the Myrtle Beach of the mountains? Yeah, its about %100 true.

Oh and Clayton King was the leader of Winter Conference and in between some preaching and worship this happened:

Anyways this weekend served as a rejuvenation for my walk. The first message given by Clayton King was about change and how you can’t become a stronger Christian overnight. It takes time and work. I have been using excuses lately to not study the Bible like I should especially in these days. So here is another ambitious goal, I will read the entire Bible before packing my bags and heading to college. Now I’ve read the entire Bible before but never by myself or because I truly desired to. So this is it, now it’s no B90X but it’s my way of learning more and refreshing my faith before setting out.

I also recently purchased Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Now I know this is a book that a lot of you have read and it’s been on my list for awhile. I started reading it and for the first 4 or so chapters I thought I had accidentally bought some Theory of Knowledge book instead (TOK is an IB class). I absolutely love the terms that he puts everything in. It seems as if we, or maybe just me, have made Christianity so simplistic and so childish that we don’t grasp the reality of the situation. It isn’t Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. It’s God made this world. We exist because of him. He is our reality. Just something to ponder about.
In the words of Mr. Lewis: “God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”

One a side note: a friend I made a few years ago at Summit (a summer camp that I’ve gone to for six or so years) just released his first cd on Itunes. It’s really fantastic, kind of a John Mayer sound to it. He is a really great guy and I wish him the best of luck with his music. He’s got talent. Click his picture for some more information and to give him a listen.

Top 5 Worst Fashion Trends of the ’00s

So we know that each decade has some wild fashion that the future generations will constanty joke about. Well let’s have a look at what our children and grandchildren will remember the 2000’s by.

#5 EMO

These were the days of guyliner,  asymmetrical haircuts, chains on pants, and army boots. Yeah. We’ll really miss this style….. or you know… not.

#4 Rompers

Why would grown women want to wear the onesies that babies love? This is unflattering on most people, if not everyone. And most importantly, how exactly are you going to go to the bathroom. Yeah, this one can just fade into history.

#3 Velour Sweat Suits

Velour. Does that actually sound appealing? At all? You do not look like you just walked out of the gym nor do you look acceptable enough to go to Walmart. Just stay away from velour. Please.

#2 Poofs

Now don’t get me wrong. Volume in hair is good, mini poofs are acceptable. But take a look at a REAL poof. It looks either like a hair tumor or a unicorn. This is not natural, not normal, and generally just makes you look rather like some sort of misfortunate narwhale. Just saying.

#1 Leggings As Pants

No. Leggings and tights are no way no how pants. I mean. It just doesn’t work. I can’t even put my thoughts about this trend into words. This guy can. Take a look at this manifesto: http://www.tightsarenotpants.com/manifesto

So that’s that. My most hated trends of the 2000’s. What are yours?

BadAwesome

Recently my brother decided that BadA stands for BadAwesome, I’m basically going to steal this phrase and run with it.
Now I’ve been out for Winter break since the 19th of December and you my dear readers may be wondering what exactly I have been filling my days with. Well let’s take a look and see:
I worked for a few days (meaning Monday and Tuesday of both weeks) at the office, which I have to love for more reasons than one. My bosses absolutely love me and I love them. We have fun all day long except for those moments when those crazy clients call throwing huge fits about why their attorney hasn’t called them back since they first called oh about five minutes ago. Fun times there folks.
I also spent some time at mock trial. This year is especially interesting because not only is it my last year but I also have a stronger personal stake in the outcome of the competion because I am good friends with the lead attorney from the Fort Mill team. We. Must. Beat. Fort. Mill.
I went to see two movies: Did You Hear About The Morgans? and Avatar. The first was a dainty little romantic comedy in which Hugh Grant again steals your heart with his quit wit and charming accent. The movie was cute but overall not that memorable although I do know how to respond in the event of  a bear attack.  Avatar on the other hand was 3 hours of cinematic euphoria. Not only did the director create an entire new world, he made it a world so beautiful and at times so culturally  realistic that one could not help but be immersed in the story. The 3-D was an added bonus.
I also attended the Elevation Church Christmas Eve Eve service
check it out: www.elevationchurch.org
Then it was time for Family Christmas! This basically entails my entire family being up around 7:30 and opening presents by taking turns then eating a huge breakfast and napping for the rest of the afternoon. My mom bought me the complete 7 seasons of West Wing which includes 154 episodes on 45 cds. Heck. Yes. So basically I’ll be watching that for the next 6 or so months.
On the 29th I met up with my Stokes City Girls State Girls. Anna, Abbie, Maddison and I had a blast hanging out around Harbison. Anna and Maddison had their first tanning bed experience, Abbie and Maddison got piercings, and we all dyed some of our hair pink. I absolutely loved getting to hang out with those girls again and we will definitely make it a habbit to continue with spontaneous adventures.
New Years was fun hanging out with the old gang. We watched some of 28 Days Later and played with fireworks. Oh correction,  the boys played with fireworks while the rest of us hid behind cars for our own safety. Which ended up being one of the smarter ideas considering one guy’s hair caught on fire during a roman candle dual. He now has a bald spot? Oh goodness.
Tonight I hung out with one of my favorite people, Molly. We talked about our lives and what was happening. She goes to CSU and I definitely don’t see her as often as I would like to.
Now we’re on to what I should have done and what I will spend countless hours doing tomorrow: procrastinated homework. One would think that assigning homework over the holidays would be callous and grinch-like but some of my teachers believe that we would rather spend time writing about shakespeare and creating chrildrens books about the immune system than watching West Wing. Wild isn’t it?
And on a side note, buy Bananagrams. It’s like Scrabble on crack. And I am the ultimate champion. Just saying.

Remember to keep up the good work, enjoy the spontaneity, try things you’ve never done, and watch as many episodes of West Wing as possible.

p.s. this post was supposed to have pictures to better assist you visual learners out there but wordpress wasn’t interested in that happening. oh technology.

So this is the new year…

Honestly I have never been a huge fan of new years, it doesn’t really seem like a holiday for me. There’s no difference in me today than there was yesterday; the only thing that has changed is the date on my papers and my computer. Or at least that’s how I used to feel. This past year was one that changed me more than I ever thought 365 days could. When the clock struck midnight and the ball dropped I realized that I will change even more this year. I’ll graduate and go to college. I’ll be surrounded by people I’ve never met, I’ll be on my own. I know it will be different and at times it will be hard but I’m ready for it.
Cheers to you, TwentyTen.

My past year in a nutshell:
2009 for me was a year of growing up. I learned to appreciate my town, my school, and my friends.
At this time last year I was in Disney with two of my best friends. From there it was time to get ready for Katie’s wedding and Junior Miss. I lost weight. All the while I was working hard (or hardly working) in IB. I learned what it is like to not depend on those around me all of the time. I had my first boyfriend. I got ready for Ryan’s wedding and went to my 3rd prom. I went to Palmetto Girls State and then went to France. I continued to work at a local attorney’s office. I gained weight. I started my senior year. I went to the majority of the lexington football games, I painted up for some of them. My sister moved to Denver. I enjoyed my senior year (with a few notable exceptions). I started listening to top 40 music more often. I went to my first Thanksgiving without my sister. I’ve spent more time with my family and less in my room. My room is still a mess. I applied to 7 different colleges. I got accepted to 7 different colleges. I was in my church’s christmas drama for the 10th year in a row. My sister came home for christmas. I met up with my girls state friends again. Went through my first break up. Dyed a few pieces of my hair pink.

This year was filled with firsts and lasts. I enjoyed and endured them all. I hope that this new year brings new experiences, new friends, and new ways to love life. I hope that I am able to make a difference wherever I am. I hope that I appreciate who I am and where I’ve come from. I hope I can recognize the beauty in every living thing. I hope I can love without inhibitions. I don’t know where I’ll be next year but I know that I’ll still be me, still stubborn and still smiling.
There’d be no distance that could hold us back.

So this is the new year.
And i don’t feel any different.
The clanking of crystal
Explosions off in the distance.

So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions

So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let’s make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogs bleed into one

I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then i could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There’d be no distance that could hold us back.

There’d be no distance that could hold us back

So this is the new year

-Death Cab For Cutie 

Dear College

I have lived my whole life waiting for the time when you and I would finally meet. I had hoped that you would be looking for me too and when the time came we would both know. Well the time is here and where are you? I get your occasional letters and invitations to this and that but those are not what I’m looking for. I need you to tell me that we are perfect for each other and that you will make it possible for us to finally be together. In other words, please pay for most of your tution yourself. I have done my part; I have studied and read and done countless hours of extracurriculars. So please don’t judge me by my class rank, my unweighted gpa, and average SAT score. Instead welcome me with open arms, a nice dorm, and a large scholarship.
Thank you and see you soon,
Clair