Outlet Bookstore!

Down at the lake, they have a nice little outlet mall. Not that little, really; it looks humble sized from the street, but goes back a ways. There are all sorts of stores, from a chocolate 'factory' to kitchen appliances and "Claire's". In the summer, I remember, they have a little cart that you can buy pretzels from. I had a nice time shopping there on the Tantara trip in 8th grade.

When we went this weekend, it was raining and dreary, and instead of Laura and the rest of the choir I was with Grandma and Great Aunt Betty. But it was still lovely, of course, because we stopped by the outlet bookstore. It has great prices, although almost all of the books are hardcover. I picked up some good deals, and most of them will probably even turn out to be decent books. :P

For 2-3 dollars a-piece, I added three volumes to my oxford pocket reference series: a biographical dictionary, a dictionary of etymology (fascinating), and a guide to Egyptian Mythology. I'm not sure quite where I'll use the latter, but I'm female and I have a weakness for sales. :P

I've been meaning to read some alternative history, and a fellow named Turtledove seemed to have good reviews, so I picked up two hardcover books from him: One assuming Japan took over Hawaii in World War II, and one assuming Nazi Germany succeeded to take over an empire, with the book set in alternative 2010 or thereabouts. I've started on the Nazi one, and I like it a lot so far. The heavy use of German phrases is lovely seasoning for a freak like me, and the other book seems to have as much Japanese. Yay! :D

Then I got "Ancestors of Avalon", because I've been impressed with the other books in that series, and it was only 1.50$ for a book that would be roughly ten times as much at home. From the same rack, which was all 50% off the lowest marked price, I got a book called "Talisman" which is about "Gnostics, Freemasons, Revolutionaries, and the 2000 year old Conspiracy at work in the world today." Even if half of it is rather questionable, it looks to be interesting.

So, I have good reading now. ^^ Wish me joy, and I'll try to review the books for you!

I'm off to the lake

I'm off to the lake. Again. It's getting a tad old, going all the time, but once I'm there I'll love it again.

Allergy Pity Post

Control Crisis

My sister's having a major control crisis. After she was on the computer an hour after her time had ended, I came in to take it. She was listening to a loud and abnoxious song and playing solitaire. So she was like, "Not until this song's over" Normally I'd let her finish her song, but I could hear it all through the house and it was bugging the crap out of me. Additionally, her tone implied "Moms not home, Dad doesn't know the time slots, what are you going to do about it?" So I told her it wasn't for her to decide. Still, she sat there and waited until the song was over. Then I took the mouse to sign her out. She literally hissed and grabbed my hand and flung it away, being like "I can do it myself!" Obviously, I grabbed her hand back, and she started saying, loudly enough to be heard all throughout the house. "LET ME GO RIGHT NOW." She was actually furious. So I didn't let her go until she could say it calmly, which took several (6-7) attempts. Then she goes, "FINE!" and flings the mouse as far as it could go on its cord, shoves me aside, and slams the door behind her. She stomped into her room, where there was a gigantic crash and a picture or two fell off the wall. O.o She's been getting worse every day. Someones got issues.

Depression

In the car, my dad said he felt depressed. It was when no cheerful remark came to me that I realized I wasn't so happy either, and my mood depreciated over the next couple of hours, filled with homework, worrying, mild annoyance, and disappointment. I've worked most of the weekend, but that's not the bad thing. The bad thing is that when there hasn't been work there hasn't been play, either. Only work, and not work. Theres a ton of work for school; all in that awful level of 'mini project' assignments that are too small to immerse yourself in, but more work than a normal assignment. We're reading books and writing essays I have no passion for; I feel so burned out in a passive, stupid sort of way that I can't say I really even care about the Spanish project (which was designed to be quite fun). On top of that, I'm exhausted (late nights last week, and no sleeping in this weekend), and the allergies are draining my energy steadily. Everything's just kind of blah... coldish and wettish and empty.

Dansko

I was buying shoes the other day, and one of the brand names, Dansko, caught my interest. I kept meaning to ask if it was a danish shoe (No reason, -shifty eyes-) but the salesman was too pushy to shut up for a second, and when he did ringing up the order I wasted the chance to ask for a tissue. Anyhow, I looked it up, and it does! Weird, maybe I should look into these random hunches more often... Brand names have to come from somewhere, you know.

Wings

Can you feel the things I feel with you?

I think I have wings.

Life is a dream, I pass through smiling...

But with perfection inside and out.

I'm so happy...

I feel like my heart is overflowing...

Simple and Clean

Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight...
It's hard to let it go.

The daily things,
That keep us all busy,
Are confusing me.

Thats when you came to me...
And I,

Wish I could prove I love you
But does that mean I have to walk on water?
When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so,
And maybe somethings are that simple...

When you walk away
You don't hear me say please,
Oh baby, don't go,
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight.
It's hard to let it go...

Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before...

- Simple and Clean, Utada Hikaru

Spring Green

Spring has come overnight, and green is everywhere! I took some lovely pictures of my yard and the commons.

Simplicity vs. Familiarity

I've never played around with Indonesian or any of the languages considered truly "EASY" any more than I've touched the ones labled truly "HARD" such as Hungarian. As far as I'm concerned, in the languages I'm learning, it's a clear choice which is the simplest; Spanish puts on a tough act with scary words like Subjunctive, but its so easy underneath it all. Pretty, too.

I thought I'd challenge myself with German. But although it feels totally different, it feels so right, too. I feel like I've always used the German past tense. I learned it yesterday. (officially, that is; I've known a self-constructed pigdin form for at least a year; probably beginning when I read the list of irregulars off the board from the previous class.) Yesterday, and yet it comes more easily to me than Spanish's preterite, imperfect, et cetera - or even the difference between. It just feels totally natural to say the whole have part, thats understandable; but it seems just as obvious to add the ge- and all. I get to thinking we do that in English. Weird.

Ich habe gekauft. Ich habe gegessen. Ich habe fotografiert. Ah, I could sit here all day. :P

If this keeps up, my only problem in German will be a lingering hatred of Gender that doesnt roll over and bare its belly the moment it sees you... (I love you Spanish, with your O's and A's) and, of course, the word Ikke... Which initially struck me as different, but threatens, and nearly suceeds, to get out of my mouth every time I mean to say nicht.

The Last Shall Be First...

Apparently, the Racquetball society has gotten religious. It started the awards ceremony with a prayer, and then proceeded to follow the popularized scripture: "The last shall be first and the first shall be last."

As you all know, if you read my lovely blog as regulars, ;) I got the lowest trophy given by Missouri High School Racquetball or whatever it's called. Bah, whatever, it's still a trophy. But it meant that they started the awards ceremony with me. Being first, I had no idea where to go or what to do. First I walked towards the trophy and took it. That was right. Then I thought I returned to my seat. That was wrong. I didn't get that far, though. All the other judges, waiting to present trophies to their people, were standing in a seemingly expectant line. I went towards them helplessly, wondering if they wanted me to shake their hands. Lots of trophy things are like that, after all.

They were like, "Sure, why not." and took my hand. Bastards. They might have pointed or something. No, they indulged in my idiocy. But I knew something was off. I backed up. "Mark!" I hissed. "Where do I go?" He's half laughing at me, and says, "We'll get you back over there. I know it's hard." I'm smiling, holding my trophy, and thinking wtf? The second girl gets her trophy and Mark says, "Hide behind her and follow her back."

So I did. And then I was so humiliated I half hid behind Kate for the rest of it. Apparently, no one in the audience really noticed, but they could have given us the low-down on what to do, couldn't they have? I feel so... sacrificed.

Edit: It's still a shiny trophy :P

Summer Resolutions!

1. Start RPing again. Yes, it's a waste of time by some standards. But its far less so than playing video games, which I fear Ive started to take its place. And, it will bring my English back up to speed. It's been sinking steadily for a while now. Today I couldn't bring up the word Copious, for god's sakes. Luckily, I wasn't in a conversation or anything.

2. Get into shape. I lovingly remember my four pack. It's gone. Now I have a 1-pack. No, not economy size - it's mercifully a single serving. But I'd like some definition.

3. Stop disappointing Mrs. Hirayoshi. She's so nice to teach me Japanese, I need to at least study the stuff she teaches me. Remember, Miranda, Japanese is not Norwegian, and you cant brainlessly guess every word and have them be right 90% of the time. (On that note, I'm still cross about 'travel')

4. Accomplish the previous 3 goals without disturbing current patterns. I have to maintain all my friendships and keep up my grades throughout.

^^ Wish me luck!

Lake Time

I thought I was above such things, but here I am; back in St. Louis, still on Lake Time. I have school tomorrow. I have an inbox full of email. I have languages to pick back up. I know all this, but part of me is still at the lake, up on the cliff with the cool wind and the unbelievably blue sky, the grey rocks nestled in gold grass, or under a pine in the park, looking out onto the lake from the lush, damp grass. It is... adjusting for daylights savings and everything else, 9:24 PM. That gives me approximately 9 hours to adjust to my real life style. ¡Que lastima!