Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Hello everyone :) It's been a long time since we've talked and I'm quite sorry about that one. There's been a lot of compromise between the things that I want to do and things that I have to do. I've been meaning to write another short story (like Scarf Boy) but I'm not sure when that's going to happen. However, it's Thanksgiving! We should be thankful for life every day but I know that's almost never the case. It's difficult to be thankful when the right colleges aren't sending you interview requests or your government teacher assigns you about four hours of homework. The sleepless nights and general exhaustion render it almost impossible to be thankful for that opportunity to be at a great high school with a wonderful community. So I'm going to take this time to tell you about some of the things that I'm thankful for :) [read more for life updates and little shoutouts].

About Time

This was such a great movie!

Hello everyone :) I'm sorry my life has been consumed by college apps. It seems I make this apology a lot but it applies every time. I'm just holding out until January when I can finally have a life again. January 1st will be a glorious start of a new year. For all of you who have college apps looming above you, I have a couple pieces of advice.

• Make an organized schedule with PRIORITIES. It helps setting up a bunch of mini goals (finish this school by next week, UC apps by Wednesday, etc.) instead of constantly thinking OMG I have 29137297398127983 apps due on January 1st. I'm never getting this done!!!! 
• Research schools thoroughly. I'm finally done compiling a college list but it is really important to look beyond the popular Ivy League schools. Have a hierarchy system of schools: reach (schools that you dream of but aren't quite qualified), standard (schools that are difficult but that you'll most likely get in), second tier (safety but barely..), safety (schools that you KNOW you'll get in). 
• Use your summer strategically. 
• Don't ask TOO many people to read over your essay. It gets annoying fast. 
• Do a little bit each day instead of waiting for a long break period (this does not mean my Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks will be spent doing apps). 
• Eat chocolate and drink copious amounts of hot chocolate. 

Anyway, that's a little bit of helpful ranting before I begin a movie review! Beware there will be spoilers. I can't recap a movie without spoilers. I'm one of those "strange" people who like knowing what will happen during a movie before watching it.. I'm always looking for websites/blogs/wikipedia links that expose what happens but no one ever uploads that. So here it is, view with your own discretion. Some weeks ago, I watched About Time with my friend D. It's directed by the same person who directed Love Actually.

Life Update: Cats, Public Speaking, and Social Life

Hello everyone :) There's been a lot of progress in my life and I've had an exceptionally busy, weird, and wonderful long weekend! It's all over now as I write this at 2 in the morning. I have so many funny things to share that it is appropriately called Life Update. Not too much has changed since we last talked. I really miss constantly writing for this blog. College apps are such needy, attention whores that get really jealous if I decide to write for anything else.

Beginner's Guide to Typewriters PART I

hello this is a guide

In the midst of metaphysical poetry and angular acceleration, my dad found me a typewriter! He found it at a thrift store for $20 which is a very good deal! I immediately fell in love with Ollie. It was a needed distraction from all the college apps, activities, and school work that have surrounded me in the past few months. It's nice to take a break from everything once in a while and just type away in an old fashioned manner. Typing on a typewriter is not really productive or effective but it's beautiful and relaxing. It's quite loud though beware. I love typing when I have time and somehow that ends up being around 12 am.. my dad thought I was chopping wood...... so yeah, you are warned! I have gotten better at typing though :) it's all practice and dedication! I introduced Ollie briefly in another post but I'm really learning how to embrace my inner hipster and use a typewriter. I have somehow become a quality hipster over the years? I love anything slightly artsy ("artsy") and vintage. The 60s were impeccable in style (Moonrise Kingdom anyone?) and I hope to design my house like that one day. I love indie music and flea markets/farmer's markets. Mason jars are my obsession. Typing on a typewriter been a huge learning process and I'm still learning new things :) Patience is definitely a virtue. I have a couple practically tips so come along with me!