The other day when I came home from school, Sydnee was wearing a pair of fuzzy pink slippers she found somewhere...
Me: Nice slippers, Beanie.
Beanie: (Hops up and down) I hoppin.
Me: (nodding appreciatively) Yeah, those sure are some awesome shoes.
Beanie: It's like a baby dragon.
Me: laughing hysterically
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Alyssa's Spiel on People Who Drive Cars
I'm sure everyone has a little tidbit to add to this one. I'm going to relate the most recent experience I've had in the passenger's seat.
The passenger's seat is a good place to be if you like to notice what people not only think they can, but actually can get away with when they are driving. The passenger's seat is good for that reason because the passenger doesn't have to concentrate on the road. The passenger can memorize the exact look the opposing driver has on their face when you unintentionally make them really mad.
I don't see why people think they can treat other people like crap just because they are driving in a car. FYI, people: When you are in a car, everyone around you is ALSO in a car! I'd like to give a brief example of a situation I've witnessed recently where drivers have been reluctant to this important (yet completely obvious) piece of information.
So here it is:
Susie was driving me home from school and we came to a 4-way stop. Yes, the classic 4-way stop. Always really entertaining. Now, I've never taken driver's ed, obviously, but I think I've heard my mom saying something once or twice about how the person going straight has the right-away, and if 2 people are going straight you alternate. If I could pick up that bit of info just by sitting in the passenger's seat, then wouldn't you expect someone who actually has their driver's license to know that? Unfortunately, most people here apparently didn't take any driving classes or something. So, anyways, we come to a 4-way stop and it's Susie's turn to go, so she pulls forward and then -SHOOM- Miss I-don't-care-if-you-have-the-right-away accelerates into the lane and Susie has to slam on her brakes. And, naturally, just to rub in the fact that she's stupid and just almost caused a car accident, Miss -whatever-I-called-her-before flips Susie off on her way past. How utterly charming... It didn't help that the girl in the passenger seat was my friend Nicole.
I am going to compare this example to bumping someone's cart at the grocery store. I know it's not the same thing, but do you think Miss disregard-the-law would have flipped Susie off if Susie had bumped her cart? NO, she wouldn't have, because she didn't have a sheet of glass (a.k.a. windshield) directly in front of her, protecting her from the face of shame. Seriously, I think having a windshield in front of them makes people feel like they can just be ignorant jerks and get away with it. And, unfortunately, they CAN get away with it.
I'm rambling. My point is, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES FOR A 4-WAY STOP, CHECK SOMEWHERE INSTEAD OF FLIPPING OFF SOME RANDOM PERSON WHO DOESN'T DESERVE IT. Okay? Seriously, people, just think for a second. Giving someone the finger shouldn't be your natural instinct. Check your facts first.
*No driver's were harmed in the writing of this post, although I hope no good driver's felt like they were being wrongfully accused or something. That was not my intention.
This has been Alyssa. Thank you and good day.
The passenger's seat is a good place to be if you like to notice what people not only think they can, but actually can get away with when they are driving. The passenger's seat is good for that reason because the passenger doesn't have to concentrate on the road. The passenger can memorize the exact look the opposing driver has on their face when you unintentionally make them really mad.
I don't see why people think they can treat other people like crap just because they are driving in a car. FYI, people: When you are in a car, everyone around you is ALSO in a car! I'd like to give a brief example of a situation I've witnessed recently where drivers have been reluctant to this important (yet completely obvious) piece of information.
So here it is:
Susie was driving me home from school and we came to a 4-way stop. Yes, the classic 4-way stop. Always really entertaining. Now, I've never taken driver's ed, obviously, but I think I've heard my mom saying something once or twice about how the person going straight has the right-away, and if 2 people are going straight you alternate. If I could pick up that bit of info just by sitting in the passenger's seat, then wouldn't you expect someone who actually has their driver's license to know that? Unfortunately, most people here apparently didn't take any driving classes or something. So, anyways, we come to a 4-way stop and it's Susie's turn to go, so she pulls forward and then -SHOOM- Miss I-don't-care-if-you-have-the-right-away accelerates into the lane and Susie has to slam on her brakes. And, naturally, just to rub in the fact that she's stupid and just almost caused a car accident, Miss -whatever-I-called-her-before flips Susie off on her way past. How utterly charming... It didn't help that the girl in the passenger seat was my friend Nicole.
I am going to compare this example to bumping someone's cart at the grocery store. I know it's not the same thing, but do you think Miss disregard-the-law would have flipped Susie off if Susie had bumped her cart? NO, she wouldn't have, because she didn't have a sheet of glass (a.k.a. windshield) directly in front of her, protecting her from the face of shame. Seriously, I think having a windshield in front of them makes people feel like they can just be ignorant jerks and get away with it. And, unfortunately, they CAN get away with it.
I'm rambling. My point is, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES FOR A 4-WAY STOP, CHECK SOMEWHERE INSTEAD OF FLIPPING OFF SOME RANDOM PERSON WHO DOESN'T DESERVE IT. Okay? Seriously, people, just think for a second. Giving someone the finger shouldn't be your natural instinct. Check your facts first.
*No driver's were harmed in the writing of this post, although I hope no good driver's felt like they were being wrongfully accused or something. That was not my intention.
This has been Alyssa. Thank you and good day.
Friday, September 18, 2009
HELP ME!!!
So far, every person I've talked to about this has assured me that I can indeed pass a high school math course in the 8th grade. Let me now provide the final piece of evidence which proves that I definitely CAN NOT pass honors algebra.
My math teacher only grades tests and quizzes. Right now my grade in her class is a C. Do the math.
That's right, I got a C on the first test of the year. Content: Matrices, Adding Fractions, Probability, Stem and Leaf Plots, and Box and Whisker Plots. Besides Matrices (which are so easy it's almost criminal) this is all stuff I learned in the 6th grade.
So why did I get a C???
Good question. I think the right answer is probably that I'm out of my mind.
The other bad news is that these are the easiest subjects we're going to be covering all year.
How am I going to do this???
I don't know what to study. I don't even know HOW to study. I've never had to study before in my life, and I guess now is a pretty good time to learn.
Needless to say, I'm frustrated. I'm so frustrated that my eyes are starting to water.
You know what else? All I ever do on here is complain. I'm really, really, really sorry that I put you guys through all this crap.
But you know what sucks even more?
I'm wearing a shirt that smells like baby puke, but I don't care enough to change it.
My math teacher only grades tests and quizzes. Right now my grade in her class is a C. Do the math.
That's right, I got a C on the first test of the year. Content: Matrices, Adding Fractions, Probability, Stem and Leaf Plots, and Box and Whisker Plots. Besides Matrices (which are so easy it's almost criminal) this is all stuff I learned in the 6th grade.
So why did I get a C???
Good question. I think the right answer is probably that I'm out of my mind.
The other bad news is that these are the easiest subjects we're going to be covering all year.
How am I going to do this???
I don't know what to study. I don't even know HOW to study. I've never had to study before in my life, and I guess now is a pretty good time to learn.
Needless to say, I'm frustrated. I'm so frustrated that my eyes are starting to water.
You know what else? All I ever do on here is complain. I'm really, really, really sorry that I put you guys through all this crap.
But you know what sucks even more?
I'm wearing a shirt that smells like baby puke, but I don't care enough to change it.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
GOSH
I have issues with answering my phone, in case you hadn't noticed.
Elen is doing her best to correct those issues.
It's not working.
So far this weekend, she's called me 34 times, left me 14 messages, and I didn't pick up once. I'm total baggage as a friend. Sorry, Elen. I would say that I'll try to do better, but I'd rather accidentally leave my phone on vibrate over the weekend than accidentally leave my phone on loud during class and get it confiscated. Plus, it would be super embarrassing because I have THE dorkiest ring tone ever. One time my phone went off during science, and luckily the teacher was nice and didn't take it, but after that everyone was like "Cool ring tone, Alyssa. (snicker, snicker)." Those poo-heads. Who gives an elephant tail if my ring tone is "cool"? But, either way, I'd rather not be humiliated in public again.
The solution is: My phone stays on vibrate, even if that means I miss a few (or 34) calls.
Anyways, before I stop going on and on about nothing, I would like to share a quote that I absolutely LOVE. I was listening to the Refreshments (cuz they're wicked awesome) and the last line of their song "Down Together" is:
"We could find a speck of dust and scribble down our life story."
Isn't it beautiful? I don't know why, but I find it absurdly comforting.
Stop laughing.
Elen is doing her best to correct those issues.
It's not working.
So far this weekend, she's called me 34 times, left me 14 messages, and I didn't pick up once. I'm total baggage as a friend. Sorry, Elen. I would say that I'll try to do better, but I'd rather accidentally leave my phone on vibrate over the weekend than accidentally leave my phone on loud during class and get it confiscated. Plus, it would be super embarrassing because I have THE dorkiest ring tone ever. One time my phone went off during science, and luckily the teacher was nice and didn't take it, but after that everyone was like "Cool ring tone, Alyssa. (snicker, snicker)." Those poo-heads. Who gives an elephant tail if my ring tone is "cool"? But, either way, I'd rather not be humiliated in public again.
The solution is: My phone stays on vibrate, even if that means I miss a few (or 34) calls.
Anyways, before I stop going on and on about nothing, I would like to share a quote that I absolutely LOVE. I was listening to the Refreshments (cuz they're wicked awesome) and the last line of their song "Down Together" is:
"We could find a speck of dust and scribble down our life story."
Isn't it beautiful? I don't know why, but I find it absurdly comforting.
Stop laughing.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Alyssa's Spiel on Book Characters
Before I begin my spiel, I should start by informing everyone that I cut myself today while I was shaving. It was really bad, too. It hurt like heck, but by now I know myself well enough not to look until it stops bleeding. It was right on the back of my ankle. Quite possibly the worst spot for a shaving cut. I scrape myself on the shins all the time and I hardly notice, but I think the ankle back is horrible. It stings the worst out of any other place. Anyway, I guess that's what I get for using a dull razor.
So, about book characters: Why do they all have to be so perfect? At least the main characters, anyway. It's okay for the minor characters to have flaws in their appearance, but heaven forbid the main character be anyhting less than a Greek god. I'm absolutely NOT talking about Edward Cullen, either. I'm talking about the main characters of every book I've ever read. I used to be really bitter about that. I was always like, "Why does the author need me to be jealous of every freaking character???" I would still like a book if the characters were just a little more human. I mean, the authors certainly always make sure to include personality flaws. Look at Bella Swan, for instance; although, I don't think she was intentionally flawed.
Let me profile for you the basic main character's appearance. First of all, they're all always really thin. The girls always have medium length or long hair. It's usually a rather unique color, like "fire-engine-red", a "rather eye-catching shade of chestnut", or a "smooth, caramel blonde". Then, there are the eyes. Main characters never have just plain brown eyes. They have eyes that are "a pretty shade of green with little sunbursts of gold at the center" or "shockingly blue eyes" or even eyes that are "molten gold." Are you catching my drift here? What is it with these people?
That's what I thought, until I tried to write my own character. And then I finally understood what goes through an author's head when they're creating a main character's appearance. They want this person that they're putting so much effort into to be everything they think they're not. I didn't want my character to look like me. I wanted to make her "actually really pretty, but in such a way that she didn't stand out in a crowd," or "long and lean, with silky raven-black hair that reached past her shoulders." I wanted her to have "shockingly blue eyes," or something like that.
That's what I wanted, but only for the briefest of seconds, and then I thought, "You know what? She can be pretty, but I want her to be humanly pretty." None of this "green with little sunbursts of gold" stuff. She can have eyes that are navy blue, or forest green, sure, but I'm not feeding my readers all that other crap. I'm not going to stoop to that level. People are people. They're absolutely not perfect, and that includes looks. Besides, sometimes little things like an uneven mouth or a crooked nose or eyes that are too close together make a character more memorable.
In conclusion, you can stop reading this now.
So, about book characters: Why do they all have to be so perfect? At least the main characters, anyway. It's okay for the minor characters to have flaws in their appearance, but heaven forbid the main character be anyhting less than a Greek god. I'm absolutely NOT talking about Edward Cullen, either. I'm talking about the main characters of every book I've ever read. I used to be really bitter about that. I was always like, "Why does the author need me to be jealous of every freaking character???" I would still like a book if the characters were just a little more human. I mean, the authors certainly always make sure to include personality flaws. Look at Bella Swan, for instance; although, I don't think she was intentionally flawed.
Let me profile for you the basic main character's appearance. First of all, they're all always really thin. The girls always have medium length or long hair. It's usually a rather unique color, like "fire-engine-red", a "rather eye-catching shade of chestnut", or a "smooth, caramel blonde". Then, there are the eyes. Main characters never have just plain brown eyes. They have eyes that are "a pretty shade of green with little sunbursts of gold at the center" or "shockingly blue eyes" or even eyes that are "molten gold." Are you catching my drift here? What is it with these people?
That's what I thought, until I tried to write my own character. And then I finally understood what goes through an author's head when they're creating a main character's appearance. They want this person that they're putting so much effort into to be everything they think they're not. I didn't want my character to look like me. I wanted to make her "actually really pretty, but in such a way that she didn't stand out in a crowd," or "long and lean, with silky raven-black hair that reached past her shoulders." I wanted her to have "shockingly blue eyes," or something like that.
That's what I wanted, but only for the briefest of seconds, and then I thought, "You know what? She can be pretty, but I want her to be humanly pretty." None of this "green with little sunbursts of gold" stuff. She can have eyes that are navy blue, or forest green, sure, but I'm not feeding my readers all that other crap. I'm not going to stoop to that level. People are people. They're absolutely not perfect, and that includes looks. Besides, sometimes little things like an uneven mouth or a crooked nose or eyes that are too close together make a character more memorable.
In conclusion, you can stop reading this now.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
My Playlist
In case anyone has even looked at my playlist, just know that I didn't write any of the titles. It's obvious that I didn't because I know how to spell 'here'.
Elen and I were talking the other day about how much it bugs us when people don't use correct grammar. You kind of get that little twitch when someone say something wrong, and sometimes it doesn't go away until you say something. You just sit there with the corner of your mouth twitching for forever. It got to the point where she had to tell this one kid in her algebra class off for a minor infranction. I'm not as picky about it as she is, because I would be a hypocrite if I was. She uses proper grammar all the time, though, so it's all right for her.
I just reread this. It's really boring, but I'm gonna post it anyway. Maybe this can be the preface to "Alyssa's Spiel on Grammar." Who knows?
Elen and I were talking the other day about how much it bugs us when people don't use correct grammar. You kind of get that little twitch when someone say something wrong, and sometimes it doesn't go away until you say something. You just sit there with the corner of your mouth twitching for forever. It got to the point where she had to tell this one kid in her algebra class off for a minor infranction. I'm not as picky about it as she is, because I would be a hypocrite if I was. She uses proper grammar all the time, though, so it's all right for her.
I just reread this. It's really boring, but I'm gonna post it anyway. Maybe this can be the preface to "Alyssa's Spiel on Grammar." Who knows?
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