hugs, light bulbs, and books

I feel like the blogosphere is dead. I mean, I know I'm not helping any by only posting on whims and that there are a few of y'all still blogging away. Maybe I need to follow more people. We're all just getting older and getting busier with various and sundry things.

This is how I am about hugs. I need to make these coupons.

 I think I might make it to Summer 2013. Just maybe. My health has been better, if you don't count getting sick AGAIN! Geeze. Big family problems include everyone getting sick and sharing it. I'm caught up on homework, but it's not over yet. Maybe I'll head to the library to finish up some stuff. I love studying at the library. I can focus there, and don't feel so closed in and stuck.

So here's something funny. I took all the books off of my shelves to dust them and reorganize because I enjoy that sort of stuff. So all the books are on my floor in piles, and I still haven't gotten around to putting them away. I went to put them away last night, but saw that the shelves had gotten dusty again! Now I have to procrastinate a little bit more.... Haha, nah, maybe I'll put them away today! Hey, I'll take a picture to show you guys when I'm finished.

Remember the super duper surprise I was gonna post about?? So, sorry about that, but it was a vlog with my best friend, but the video won't upload so y'all might not be able to see it. Shame on me.

I read Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief on a whim a while back. I read it and enjoyed it a lot! It was well done and fun! Naturally, it was a little under my reading level, but I don't mind that. I watched the film a couple evenings ago and absolutely loved it! I was a little skeptical at first because of all the material to cover and special effects that would be necessary, but I was pleasantly surprised. Usually I'm judging effects and actors and humor and pacing the whole way through a film when I know the ending, but I wasn't! I enjoyed the whole thing. The actors were all top-notch...Logan Lerman is precious too. The makers made the film enjoyable for older audiences without adding unnecessary crude humor or anything. I highly recommend it and can't wait for Sea of Monsters! I'll have to read the rest of the series!

I found this online and loved it. It shows how forward thinking is often attacked. Do you ever feel like the only light bulb in a world of candles?

I love Sherlock because it is so intelligent and marvelously paced with good action...who am I kidding? Lies! All lies! I LOVE Benedict Cumberbatch! I can't wait for the next Star Trek! All these girls are about to become die-hard Trekkies. lol

Well, that's a lovely note to end on. Off I go to do important things!

~billyBobjoe Cumberbatch

minimalist posters (part 5)

Aren't you excited? I'm finally getting around to posting some more of these. Now we're at the fun category of Animated films. Yes, some of these posters naturally belong in several categories, but I chose the ones I did for a reason. These are all blue too!

 The clock with no numbers serves the purpose of the ambiguity of Wonderland and showing the main symbols. I love it.

This is beautiful, like the film, but simply shows Toothless as a dragon, with none of the personality, which is a good idea so you'll be surprised.

Simple like the concept of the movie. It doesn't focus on the music, but on the magic, which is what the music is anyway.

And now...Miyazaki. Nothing left to say, except that I love the watercolor style for the sky.

Perfection. There are so many things that Spirited Away can be recognized by, but this is perfect.

I hope you like these as much as I do. Have you seen them all? Which was your favorite? By the way, the background for the Alice one is the color that I want the bottom half of my hair to be when I grow it out.

One more post of random ones, then Nolan films is the schedule.

Movie loving billyBobjoe

Black and White

A bunch of things have been cooking up in the old noggin, some of which are going to go into this post. Naturally. Sorry, if it's rambly, but I promise it's all connected.

Anyway, I'm been thinking about the importance of truth and perfect honestly. I'm also reading Insurgent, which is a dystopian with a government composed of "factions", one of which being Candor. If you know your vocabulary and roots and stuff, you probably guessed that that had to do with Truth. It does, and I would recommend Divergent and Insurgent, the sequel. The colors and symbols for Candor are black and white and scales, respectively, causing me to think about black and white. And that's it. That wasn't as long or important or interesting as I had hoped! haha, a) I believe in Truth b) I'm reading Insurgent c) here are some b&w pictures!

I just love that this looks like sacrifice and dedication.

Makes me want to dance more than I already do. And by dance I mean learn how. I love it, but can't.

 Don't need words for Batman and a dragon.

I just love this. I don't even know why, maybe it is the metaphor of surviving. The paint drips almost suggest that it's not real.

Joe agrees

Joe, you are too darn precious and everything beautiful and wonderful.

I firmly believe that that picture was what photography was invented for. Talk about capturing a moment.

 

Dreams come true. Nightmares are dreams too.

Wings

 

I hope you enjoyed this. I sure did. I love "scrapbook" posts, as I call them. It turns out that Blogger hates me and won't put the pictures where I wanted them, so this'll have to do. A word is worth a thousand pictures and a picture worth a thousand words. I try to weave them together. "Weave" is always used for words and pictures... I try to jimmy them together. No? I think so.

I'd love your thoughts.

Listening to Can't Buy Me Love by House of Heroes.

Love you people, thanks for the inspiration.

With a flourish, bBj

2013

Blogger is being weird and not letting me upload pictures, which is bad because I almost always have something to show you guys. I have a few topical posts planned and a super exciting surprise anyway!

How about an "I'm excited for 2013" post then? I'm so late too.

*goes to read journal post form Dec. 31* What?? It's not there! Um, for some reason, my computer (BAD computer!) decided that my hopes/goals/wishes for 2013 were not worth saving. I'm sad. I'll wing it. The three catagories are mixed together.

Gaining up to and staying at 110 lbs.

Work out regularly and get some muscle. Increase stamina.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Watch Doctor Who

Finish Jr year with all A's

Turn 17

Get drivers license

Read 100 books

Watch 100 films

Oblivion, Epic, The Great Gatsby, Man of Steel, Lone Ranger, and Despicable Me 2

Get 50 Twitter followers

Get 50 Blog followers

Perform in Seussical the Musical

Visit KeKeJ in California

Read and watch Harry Potter

Dye hair

Getting my braces off

What do you think? Sorry so many have to do with movies! Actually, no I'm not.

More posts when Blogger decides not to be a butt. Also, don't forget about the special surprise that's coming up! It has to do with me, KeKeJ, cheese, and a teddy bear...

bBj

shells and tropics

Sometimes I get so drained that I feel like just a shell. At least I'm supposed to be eating a ton, so I'm not guilty about the giant snack and Tropical Smoothie Cafe...

Things get so often described as being like the "eye of the storm", but I'm here telling you that I'm at the stormiest part, but where you can see the sun peeking out in the distance. I just have to press through to that point. I keep realizing that it will get worse, then it will get better. I'm not grumbling, just thinking and reminding myself.

It's like I know what to do, just won't bring myself to do it. It's dumb.

Well, enough of that. This is my 75th post! *rejoicing*

listening: Oh! Darling by: The Beatles

reading: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by: Stevenson. This is a re-read for school.

Things that don't change and the new EP

braces

acne

friendships

the desire to communicate with them all the time, be it with calls or texting.

school, namely geometry

music

saying goodbye

excitement about summer and vacations

I know I didn't hit them all, but these are the ones that I'm dealing with! Yes, braces hurt. Did anyone ask? Don't care, still told you! And they're purple. I have already disobedied the orthodontist! They said to only eat one chip at a time, and I put two in my mouth at one time like a baus! It wasn't that exciting, and it kind of hurt. I've also been eating a ton of marshmallows...but I bet you really don't care about how I've kept alive since getting a mouthful of metal.

Well, I'm super excited about that down there! Any new music of his is welcome. I've actually not heard them all yet, but I will soon. Thanks Adam for giving me inspiration and optimism!

So that's what's up. I'm currently in the middle of Wuthering Heights, which is really good, and Paralandra, also very good. Former by Charlotte Bronte and latter by C.S. Lewis. It had been told me that I would most likely like Paralandra better than Out of the Silent Planet, but so far I have not. If you haven't read The Space Trilogy, do so now! I suggest other Lewis books first, but if you have any questions, just ask!

How I Became the Sea - Owl City

bBj, who's "leeeaaavin' on a jet plane".... *loud singing*

cool beans! I'm going to CA!

I'm back!
You were supposed to read that in a sing-song voice. Because I actually say things in a sing-song voice a lot.

hmm. Anyway.
I finished my homework for the week today! And this week is our last week at jolly olde Comm. Central. All I have left is studying for and taking finals! woohooo! Enough of that.

This chick just bought a plane ticket! To sunny

to visit my bestie with my sister! I can't wait, especially since I've been planning this with her for over two years. And because it will be my first time to fly, on a plane that is.
I bought some cute red shoes, which is always a win! I've also been added to my collections recently. Not like...what do normal people collect? Well, I've been adding to my DVD collection and book library! I bought Get Smart, The Dark Knight, and The Italian Job. As for books, I won't list all of them, because I got over ten. They did include Sophie's World, The Pilgrim's Regress, Lord of the Flies, Wuthering Hights, and Messanger. I grin-eth with much happiness!

Also, I want to thank all of you who have followed me recently and have caused my views to skyrocket, for me anyway. It has encouraged me very much!

I've been hanging out with my loverly Anna recently. We spent the night together at her house on Tuesday night and the Tuesday night befo' that. We watched Hot Rod together and I laughed really, extrememly, majorly loudly. ok, not really. But a lot. Now she and her sister and I can carry on conversations without saying anything other than quotes and inside jokes. It's a big accomplishment!

One time we slept in their hammock, and one time we were going to sleep on the second floor porch, but workers were coming the next morning, so we prudently decided against that. We also did one of the things on my Bucket List. I know, I still haven't written it out and posted it yet.

Yay! We watched the stars, and karma got Anna. Her cat jumped on me and scared me while in the hammock, and then the next time, Boogers, the cat, scared her! Mwahahaha! Not that I believe in karma anyway.

We pause for a moment to bring you, some toasted marshmallow flavored "cool beans".

Buh Bye! Cool beans.
~bBj

the beginning of spring break

I keep starting posts, but by the time I get back to finish them, they're out of date! darn it! I promise to write a whole post in one day this time.

*loud cheering* It's FINALLY spring break! Spring itself is so welcome to me, but having no school at the same time is like super-mega-awesome-double-win-forever! I did important things like clean my room this morning, but vegged all afternoon. I watched Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (don't laugh at me! It looked cute!), a Brian Regan stand up comedy show, and AFV! Oh, and ate. I ate food while doing so.

Lest you think that I get pleasure from folding clothes and putting objects away, that's not really what I mean by "Cleaning my Room" (with capital letters). I just bought a new organizational set of drawers on wheels at Target, so today I was consolidating things to make the best use of space in my room! Why that makes me so happy I'll never know. Just you wait, I'll go to college and have to room with a slob, it's in my future! But I do have practice from my little sister whom I share a room with.

I got some new clothes the other day! I finally got some overalls. I've been meaning to for forever, almost. I'm going to wear them out. I also got some shortalls, which are overalls with half of the pants missing, just to explain. I'm about to get saddle oxfords for Bye Bye Birdie, but also for me to have and wear in general. A few tshirts rounded out the new addition to my wardrobe.

I haven't been reading much lately. Not that I haven't wanted to, but I've just been too busy! I did just finish The Pilgrim's Regress by C.S. Lewis and 1984 by Orwell. Wow. They both blew my mind, but in totally different ways. As you can see on my sidebar, I'm behind on my 2012 challenge, but I'll catch up. Maybe when I go to California or Colorado... Yes I am! And I am pumped! I'll take a few pictures for ya! I'll probably take Pete and then have a post of all of his adventures. CO is for the family vacation, and CA is the destination of me and my big sister to visit some friends.

I think that there's nothing like working. My family members are laughing at me. What I meant, of course, was working somewhere for PAY! duh. It's so rewarding to work hard and put yourself into something, then to go to the bank. You know, God gave Adam work to do before the Curse. Work must be good for us, because it is not a result of sin. Most people don't think of that, or conveniently forget it, although, I will be the first to say that it's not always fun.

I wish my computer wouldn't be so slow. I really can't ever get online. *tear of sadness* I'm considering breaking down and getting a tablet. *looks away guiltily* I don't have anything particularly against them, but I ahvne't seen the need for one until now. But I don't really have a need; I could just buy a new computer. heh heh yeah! Just kidding, I can't! My computer works well enough for non-interweb related things, but I kind of like the internet, you know? Like, wouldn't want to live without it!! Okay, I'm fine. Well, I sure am not thinking of getting Apple, with all it's bling and... this just in! It can't really do anything? Oh, that.
I'm thinking more along the lines of a Kindle Fire. I need to do some research, because I would like an ereader, but one that was also a tablet so I could watch movies, update my blog, listen to music, and play games. Do you have a tablet? What do you think of it?

I'm off to feed Gandalf...my fish, and go eat dinner!

See ya in the movies, or on stage, whichever comes first!
billyBobjoe

PS So super excited about THG premier!

[cool post title]

I can't decide whether or not there are enough hours in the day. Most likely, I just don't use time very wisely, as evidenced by the fact that I haven't posted a real post in forever. Anyway, I'm pretty well kept busy with homework, rehearsals, and work. I'm so sick of Comm. that I've worked my tail end off trying to get everything done with time to spare. In face, I'm about to head to the library to finish up this week's work.

I just finished reading A Tale of Two Cities, and liked it very much. That is, I liked how it ended, but not how long it took to get there! I'm also reading The Pilgrim's Regress by C. S. Lewis, which is good, but I'm afraid that 1/4 of it is going over my head, and 1984 by Orwell, which I also am greatly enjoying. That and The Giver both go to show you that Dystopian is not a new genre.

Why is it that I wake up ready to tackle the day on those days, few and far between, when I have absolutely no homework? My internal clock is in the Lazy Time Zone...

I took the Fandom Quiz! The first one represents the results from the 20 question quiz. The second is the other! I don't know all of these fandoms, so those don't really mean anything to me, but I'm generally happy with it! If you know me IRL, which one do you think best describes me?

The ones that really matter to me are Hunger Games, LOTR, Star Wars, Narnia, and Star Trek! Notice how much evil-er I am in the first one!

I seem to have run out of inspiration. My posts are few and far between, and they are all very similar. I don't write this blog just for you my readers, but I do want to keep y'all happy! What do you want me to discuss/review/talk about/bring up? Lemme know and I'll get around to it! Promise!

-billyBobjoe the... I was about to list all of those things and races, but decided against it because, well, because you can just read them up there!

snow day?

There was much anxiety about the impending ice and blizzard.

Do we have milk and eggs? everyone wondered. (Sarcasm. It rarely snows even in inch here, so when it does, there is much...preparation!)

I woke up this morning at 6:45 and immediately looked out the window. Snow falling. That was a good sign! I crawled back in bed, determined not to go to sleep until The Email was sent declaring the fate of all the students of Comm. Central. I finally got up, worried that I would be disappointed and not have a lunch made in time.

My mother came in and announced the Snow Day! I smiled cheerily, if a bit sleepily, and got back in bed. I slept 'til 8:30, something that I had not done on a Monday the whole school year.

I put on a abnormally cute outfit, which consisted of grey jeans, a red shirt, one of my dad's huge blue sweaters, and a pretty necklace. It was what I was going to wear to Comm, but I wouldn't have been able to stand not wearing it after so much thought had gone into it! Yes, I am strange, and go through little clothing phases like everyone else.

I even studied today. Aren't you proud of me? It felt like I was being handed 24 hours on a silver plate. I never get anything done on Mondays because classes don't count.

I sat around. I lounged around. I drank tea by the fire. I wore two pairs of socks. I read 3/4th of Many Waters by: Madeline L'Engle and finished it.

The clouds got exausted after an inch and stopped. Stopped snowing, that is. They rained and sleeted and drizzled for a while longer. None of the snow stuck, but I wasn't planning on going outside anyway.

That's how snow days go in the South.

~billyBobjoe

On the town!

Saturday was fun! That's all I can say. Actually, I can, and will, say a lot more!

An outing was planned. That's all I knew. Well, I did know that it would include friends and food, but that's all.

Me, M, and J

I got up super early and got ready for the day, even though I had gotten in bed really late the night before and was therefore tired. My bed was literally calling my name, wanting me to crawl back in, but I stuffed cotton in my ears (figuratively) and did not heed the siren call. Did you notice how dramatic that was? Anyway, I got decent in time for M's family to pick me up and take me to the place of "dropping other kids off and picking another friend up". That's the official name of the place.

We went downtown and drove around while deciding what to do first. First, we went to a bakery for breakfast. I am omitting names to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent, referring to my friends and I!

I don't believe in staged pictures!

I, like the tightwad that I am, bought a pastry, and only a pastry. Of course I did mooch off of M and J's food too. (Those are the initials that I am using to refer to M and J...what?) We talked there for a while, then walked to the Main Library, which I had never been in, taking pictures all the way on M's camera.

This is the "Manhole" dance.

We immediately walked/rode the elevator up to Level 4, which is the all-teen level, which had been redecorated a couple of months before. The place was amazing...

...and had this display outside! Me gusta.

Me being a typical teenager...

The books were all cool, but the decor was even better! It didn't seem to me to be too "let's get teens to hang out at the library because it looks all hip and stuff", but did end up really groovy. Yeah, I said groovy, deal with it!

There were lots of computers, pillows by the window on which you could read, and orange chairs with swivel desks on them.

Can you see the wavy, purple table with silver ottomans?

Lovely M

The lovely J

There was a big tv room where they have movie showings, and the seats were these big, round, yellow, rocking chairs! Adjectives! Too bad I didn't get a picture of them, so you could've seen how perfect my description was. Anyway, it was much too fun of a place to be quiet, but we were...mostly.

Then there was the section with vending machines, booths, and a popcorn maker. There was also a toaster, but I can't imagine what that was for. The tables had bottletop surfaces and upsidedown cups as seats.

Best of all, in my humble opinion, were these cool, green chairs that are really hard to describe!

M obviously doesn't have a care in the world.

Can you see what I mean? There is a frame, from which a stretchy, meshy fabric is stretched taut, and you just kind of sink into it! I want one. So. Stinking. Badly! I'm honestly thinking of having my birthday party there! No, I'm not too old!

Next, we took some more pictures and walked over to Ten Thousand Villiages. I didn't know what it was, which was probably a good thing, seeing as things like that usually make me sick. You know, the sob stories about random things being made by African women to keep their families alive! and stuff. Anyway, that's practically what it was, but I really liked it! Everything there was really cool and almost everything was something that I wouldn't mind having in a future home! The prices weren't outrageous either. I came home with a hackey sack from Guatemala, but could've bought the one-person hammock, the pretty, encouraging word stones, the cute figurines, the set of dice, or any manner of thing if I had had enough dough to spend! I have to go back. (I really have no earthly idea why the font changed! Maybe it was just bored?)

Aren't we cool? We didn't even plan these poses!

We went a few other places and hung out a bit more while waiting for everyone to get their kids in their cars and such. The family that I was with forgot about me going home and took me to lunch, which I didn't have a problem with! I had Thai food for the first time. I even ended up getting home on time.

in which the book lover in me squeals with delight

I got on Goodreads! I love it. Not just like, love.

Pages and (internet) pages of books await me!

I rated all the books that I have read (no, not all of them), and am currently in the process of moving my to-read spreadsheet over to teh interwebz!

Of course, I'm billyBobjoe on there, but I think it messed up and shows me as "Billybobjoe", which you should all know, is NOT how I spell my name. I just wanted to clear that up before I get bombarded with, "That's not how you said to spell your name!"

Abanyhoo, if you like to read in the slightest, you should get on there! If you don't....start liking to. It'll change your life. If you are on there, make me one of your friends!

I just finished The Hunger Games, which are amazing! I honestly don't like the writing style, but the story is great. The way that the author describes those characters that you need to know is interesting. I love the way that symbolism is used. If you are planning to read them soon, look for fire, and the mockingjay symbols. Those should seem obvious, because of the titles, but they come in the story in different types of ways. Full reviews on each to come....hopefully.

I'm off to study!

bBj

chutes and ladders and summers

So, yes I was reading a book instead of doing history the other day. Ride the slide back down to square number four.

And, yes I was listening to Michael Buble while doing logic homework. Wait, that good! Go up to square number ninety-seven. Yes, go up that far!

All this to say that I'm back in school and liking MB a lot! In other news:

I met two girls who are twins and really cool the other day, so I've been texting them to get to know them! I have a lot in common with both of them and hope they join our church!

So, you see? The world is out to get me, and get me not to do my homework! Dastardly plan, no? Oh wait, now I'm writing a post....never mind, I need to!

Does that happen to you? Of course it does! Now I feel better!

I really want summer to come! I'm sick of winter already. I'm glad that I didn't have to live in Narnia when the White Witch was ruling, because "all winter and no Christmas" would have sucked. People are made to desire change, especially for the different seasons, but I have it BAD! (I intentionally used an adverb and left off the -ly!) Spring is the best time of year, followed closely by summer, and I can't wait.

We moved a year ago, and our new house has this great tree in the front that I read under ALL THE TIME in summer. Actually, I read, write, and think under it, but only when the creeper neighbors aren't out. o_0 Literally, in summer, I am outside more than inside. The Great Outdoors becomes my home, and I walk out the front door and onto the lawn like I was walking out of my room and into the hall.

I don't have any big plans, but that's the joy of summer, no? I just want to watch the few clouds on my back with my aviators on. *sigh* Classic.

I hope I didn't make you too discontented! If you go do the homework that you are avoiding, I'll do mine. Deal? Okay, fine.

bBj

I'm a little late...

....to be cluttering your Dashboard up with 2012/New Year's Eve stuff, but I am anyway!

I am, for some reason, super excited about this year. 2004 and 2008 were good years for me, so I wishing on a comet that this one will be too!

I didn't make any resolutions, except to drink more water. I don't like water at all, and often get headaches from dehydration. Oh well, I'm working on it.

I have a bunch of things that I'm excited about too! Here are a few:

001. I freaked you out with the double zeros didn't I? you thought I had a hundred!

002. Turning 16

003. Finishing Sophomore year

004. Starting Junior year

005. Getting a job

006. Getting a driver's license (working on this one!)

007. Going to CA to finally visit my friend

008. The Dark Knight Rises

009. Star Wars in 3D (because I wasn't old enough to see them in theater)

010. The Hobbit Part 1: An Unexpected Journey

011. The Hunger Games (not totally sure because I haven't read the books)

012. The Avengers

013. White Collar Season 3

014. Being in Bye Bye Birdie

015. Learning to play guitar

016. Growing (it's a serious hope!)

017. Traveling

018. Being in a food fight (I think the best food fights are spontaneous, but I seriously am looking forward to it, whenever it may take place)

019. Dying my hair (only part of it)

020. Learning a new language

What do you think? These are only a few! What are you looking forward to?

-bBj

PS 021. Looking forward to the end of the world. Major sarcasm. :)

I'm Back!

Here I am. Sorry it has been so long, but lookie down there! To the right.

I won! 30 days of insane are finally at a close, and I literally have been avoiding my computer since then. I don't even want to get online. Weird. My writing has improved a lot, but NaNo has mostly upped my determination, lack of sleep, and pride. Yes, I do have eternal bragging rights, thank you!

I am off of school, and only have a little bit of homework for over the break, including reading this:

But instead, I have been reading this:

I love Jane Eyre! I have read it once before, in a day and a half, but I wanted to read it again. It is also the first book for the next semester, so I am getting ahead. Good for me! I just finished it last night, when I should have been asleep. *looks sheepishly around* Who me?

There is a little bit of snow on the ground still, from last night, but it will melt soon. I, unfortunally, think I am growing up. *sigh* I did not even go out in it! It was beautiful, and I saw the shape of a snowflake for the first time! It was shocking and fantastic, in the most original sense of the word. It looked other-worldlym which makes sense, it falls from heaven.

Also, *inhales excitedly* my family and I have been watching this:

I love it! So funny, interesting, and smart. By "smart" I mean that the mystery is well done. And Neal Caffrey's wardrobe? Oh yeah! We are only five episodes in, and three of them were watched last night, with the snow falling! So cozy!

I also recently organized my room. I am one of those people who enjoy doing that sort of thing. No pun intended with the "sort" thing. Did you catch that? You did? Well, never mind. Anywho, I started out organizing and cleaning ONE shelf... I took everything off of several shelves, out of four drawers, and my attic space. I should have taken before and after photos to show you! I moved everything around, made a huge mess, got sick of it, left the room, left stuff all over my bed, had to sleep on the couch, then finished. I still have a few piles of things that I do not know what to do with, but I'll get to that later.

I'm going to post a few pics of me in my new apron that my grandmother made and gave me, the halo that I bought today, and all my bracelets. I hope you want to see them! I have a ton of bracelets. Random fact.

Sorry if I am MIA on everyone's blogs. My mini computer is as slow as day-old honey, and doesn't like me to hang out on teh interwebz. Oh well.

Holler at me!

bBj

Coziness

Yesterday morning just had that... cozy feeling! It was raining outside and I just noticed that my favorite tree in the backyard is partially yellow and brown! There was a buttery rum candle burning in the kitchen.

It was chilly outside.

It was quiet downstairs and I had a space heater going in my bedroom, even though it wasn't super cold.

I was also wearing huge red house shoes that look like pigs. Still am, to be perfectly honest! My friend from Comm. Central, which is my homeschool co-op, if I haven't told you, let me borrow them this week! I've already been to the grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, and the library in them.

Why that makes me cozy I really don't know!

School's going well right now and I just got elected as High School Student Council President! Yeah, I know, it's got a lot of capital letters! w00t!

We get to pick the topic for our next essay because Gulliver's Travels is too weird! o_0 Have you read it? That makes me happy because I can now somehow write about The Power of Six...

...which I just finished a few minutes ago! And I got it from the library Monday night! I'm gonna post a review on I Am Number Four and hopefully one on the movie, as soon as I see it. Then this ^ there!

It's Christmas time! Oh yes it is! Don't even try to argue. Don't dare. There is garland strewn about the Living Room and the Tree base is set up. Notice the awe in which that was typed. *wink*

I wish I could communicate the joy that Christmas and everything relating to it brings me. I'll try some time! I've been excited about Christmas for a couple months now and as soon as I get some money I will be going shopping! I also need to ascertain whether my best friend is coming to town.

I'm making friends with people at Comm. Central and by this point you probably all think I'm this hopeless girl who doesn't have any friends and gets excited about everything. That's definitely not the truth! It just feels better to let it all out when you're happy than when you're in the dumps. Just wait for the horrible post when I am. You will regret reading it! *laughs*

Unfortunately, my dear little baby computer, who is a mini, is going through one of those phases. You know how children are? He just won't cooperate and takes so long to do things! Anyway, it's a love/hate relationship. The purpose of this little spiel was just to tell y'all that it takes a long time to post and do stuffs online, so don't forget about me! I'll be around. And I'm having trouble commenting on blogs, but that's my problem!

'Nough for now...

Formorrow,

~bbj

Review on The Only Alien on the Planet

Author: Kristen D. Randle

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-12

“...something's seriously wrong with him.”

   “They've all gotten used to him. The one who never speaks. The one who never smiles. They all say he's retarded. So, though his name is Smitty, they call him “The Alien.” and from the moment Ginny sees him she knows she has to meet him. Because she's been feeling weird since she and her family moved from the West Coast. She knows what it's like to feel alone. Ginny decides to become his friend. But Smitty is very different from anyone Ginny has ever known. And she soon realizes that reaching out to him might destroy him. Because in his world, there is no love. No pain. No room for anything – or anyone. Until Ginny comes along...”*

   I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. I kind of read this as a favor! I ended up really loving all the characters and could resonate with all of them. The plot was interesting and wasn't predictable at all. The main characters were seniors, but I didn't get sick of the “school” setting. Even though the plot isn't something that happens to anyone, the setting was normal, but not boring. It delved into some pretty deep issues, one especially that I've been thinking about a lot, and will be talking of in my NaNo novel. Go read it, it's worth it! I gave this a PG-12 rating, if that even exists. Practically speaking, I recommend this to anyone over 12 with no limitations. I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars!

* This summary taken from the back of the The Only Alien on the Planet book cover

~bbj the reader!

Review of Prada and Prejudice

Author: Mandy Hubbard

Genre: Romance

Rating: PG

Callie is tired of being a clumsy geek-girl. So during a school trip to London she buys her ticket to popularity: a pair of real Prada pumps. But then she wobbles on the cobblestones, trips in her too-high heels, and conks her head. When she comes to, it's the year 1815!

Luckily she meets kindhearted Emily, who mistakes Callie for a long-lost friend. Sparks soon ignite – of the nice and not-so-nice variety – between Callie and Alex, the handsome but totally arrogant Duke of Harksbury. Too bad Alex seems to have something sinister up his ruffled sleeve...

Can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, win a kiss from Alex, and prove to herself that she's more than just a loud-mouth klutz before her time in the past is up?*

“I didn't know these dances! And as soon as the next dance starts, I'm going to be standing here alone while Emily dashes off to dance with Trent. It's like my worst nightmare, come to life.

Turns out 1815 isn't so different from the twenty-first century, because this is exactly what would happen if I were back home.

Why did I think it would change? Flying thousands of miles to Europe didn't change my fate. Traveling two hundred years, it seems, didn't either.”

   I absolutely loved this novel! I have loved Pride and Prejudice for a long time and wanted to see if this was mocking it or tipping it's hat to the original. This book did not disappoint! Despite the main character's being almost exactly like me, the book would've held my attention anyway. The characters felt real and the setting even more vivid! I read this in a few hours and thought I had gone back in time as well. This book would be good for someone not really interested in the 1800's; who knows, they might end up loving old fashioned things better for this! I rated this PG just because it's a romance and Callie takes the Lord's name in vain several times. The whole attitude behind this is kind of sassy though, beware! 5 out of 5 stars.

* This summary taken from the back of the Prada and Prejudice book

Mission's and Reading

Now the reason why I'm posting early is that I'm leaving on a Mission's Trip on Monday and obviously won't have access to my lovely computer! I say leaving, and that probably gives you images of helping to share the Gospel in Africa or some other glamorous place, but in reality, which is where we live, it's a local outreach. My church is having a evangelism conference with opportunities to live out what we've just learned in the city. Anyway, I will be helping with Backyard Bible Clubs, a "downtown" ministry, and the Boys and Girl's Club. I am also super extremely excited!! Don't we Christians get so hung up with the specific "ministries" of our own personal Church and forget all about actually telling people the Good News of how a holy God came to a fallen world to save his creations and give them eternal Life? Yes, we do. How could we not be horribly pained to see so many dead people around us? That's how we should think of it. We walk around and interact with spiritual zombies all the time. God, help us to see humans the way you do! To tell the truth, which is not to say that all that was a lie, but, to tell the truth like I was just now, today it my Spiritual Birthday! Nine years ago today God brought me to my knees with the realization that I'm a sinner. Thank you LORD!

On a much lighter note: I like to read. A lot! Have you read this?

It's so wonderful! Especially if you like dystopian! Anyway, I don't read like most teenage girls, as you can tell, who only read romantic fiction, *coughcoughTwilightcough* and that not very often! Don't you just feel sad for those people? No, I practically devour books, and read way too many at once! (I correctly distinguished between "to" and "too"! I most always do, but most ordinary *say it with a sneer* people don't.) Anyway, I even read from all genres. I've read more classics than most kids my age and older. The only thing is, I can't get enough! I want to read more and more! More classics, more modern books, more mysteries, etc. My reasoning is that I want more than anything, well, more that most anything, to be a well-rounded person. One with all sorts of ideas and opinions on all subjects! Someone you can talk to about anything. Maybe it's going backwards to post this and maybe this makes me sound like a stuck-up, nerdy, perfectionist, who only likes to study. Well, I'll have you know that is not the case at all! Nerdy, yes! Someone who likes to study, yes, but definitely a "people person"! I don't know any strangers! I like to hope I'm not too (look, I did it again!) "BLAH-in-your-face-I-don't-know-you-so-I'll-introduce-myself!!!" The more I think about it, the more I realize how true that is! Oh well, feel free to disagree!

Oh, and I've just realized that for some reason, actually, for no reason, my blog isn't showing when I hit the "enter" button. As in, all this will run together and be really difficult to read! Oh well. I sure hope it doesn't!

Also, most successful bloggers say to have a theme for your blog. Not, of course, that I only care about getting followers! Believe me, I blog for myself, but would like to have my opinions heard! Anywho, I don't have a subject short of “here's a subject and here's what I think about it!” So tell me what you think about different things I try and what you'd like to hear more on! I'd sure love that. Also, I hope this Waltz isn't too girly. I mean, I would like guys to read it too! Guys, feel free to read and follow, I won't only talk about girly things!

Is this not the most conclusive chart for all people who watch movies ever? I'm definitely the attentive one. And it's right, don't watch Inception (best movie ever) with Easily Confused People!

One last thing to think on, actually, to look at! So cute and vintage!

There, that wasn't too girly of a post was it?

~b!llybobjoe