Yesterday

Extended
Invitation
Which do I choose?
Stirring
My desires
Will I listen?

The bells rang soft
I did not come.

Pulling
Towards the pity
This gripping sting.
The fear
Of then; of time
When turns to chaos.

The bells rang peace
I did not come.

Inborn
And all will see
Such as this?
Identity
And self, composed
In twisted matrix.

The bells rang deep
I did not come.

Tugging
Tenacity
My back to winds.
And soft
Is gone; no more;
I can't resist the flow.

The bells rang strong
I did not come.

Calling
One small child's voice
Through all the noisy space.
But she holds
And drags me in
Tempestuous time.

The bells rang future
I will come.

And the wrinkled hand of Yesterday
Lies limp, and silent; still.

liveblogging the junior thesis!

I am about to begin reading through my junior thesis. I have edited it and edited it. Now, after stepping back and creating the works cited/bibliography, I am actually going to read it all the way through. I want you to understand that I have NEVER done that. Not for any paper, ever. This is a milestone for me, guys... I'm getting choked up! (just kidding)

10:12- I am about to embark on a perilous, ne'er attempted journey. Wish me luck.
I am so lucky to have found that quote last summer. It was so random; I wasn't even thinking about the junior thesis.
10:13- David was right. Value=/=Beauty. Sigh. but it's so nicely alliterative. I couldn't think of that word. I had to google it. Alliterative, I mean. I'm tired.
10:15- I used "beauty" in every single sentence of the 2nd paragraph. sometimes twice.
10:16- taking out "however" in a sentence opener really makes the sentence seem more bold.
10:19- AAH!! I forgot to cite any of my internet sources! AAH!
10:30- I don't want to do this. My dad just offered to do it for me. I'm tempted.
I forgot to cite that poem. I don't feel like doing it now. I'm going to delete that sentence. *BWOOP!* done.
10:33- I ought to take my contacts out.
10:36- the way I look right now does not even deserve "death warmed over." It's a whole lot closer to "death defrosted."
I broke into my secret chocolate stash. David said this paper took him 3 hours to read, and I'll bet he was awake.
10:37- the sentence sounds like the action and motivation had lovely features. I meant to say the women who DROVE the action and motivation had lovely features.
10:39- what's the plural of "behalf"? Is it "behalves"? "behalfs"? "behaves"? lol
10:40- MSWord says that "in every regard" does not agree in number. I disagree.
10:44- that section lacks a concluding paragraph. Oh well. I don't want to write one.
10:48- so THERE, Megan! I only use "in a sense" TWICE in the paper. I don't know what you were talking about...
10:50- I am lying for the sake of understand-ability. Nastasya only goes to marry Rogozhin; she doesn't actually marry him. but it's close enough. she lives in his house, for Pete's sake. who is Pete, anyways?
10:54- wow, that part about Myshkin & Nastasya really is confusing, and unnecessary to boot. *delete*
10:55- I hope Mrs B doesn't remember that I copied and pasted like 4 pages of this from an essay I did for her last year.
10:57- I just realized how creepy the Aglaya situation is. Myshkin almost marries his second cousin once removed. Ew. That's like me marrying my dad's cousin. EW. What's weird is that my dad's cousin's girlfriend does look like me... lol
11:04- :) alliteration! "Karenin values simplicity, straightforwardness, and sensibility ... He is duty-driven and direct ..."
11:07- is the word "clearly" too subjective?
11:09- subheadings are a pain in the butt, but I couldn't live without them... too bad MLA websites do not clearly and unanimously specify how to do them.
11:13- after all these years, I cannot spell "exercising" right the first time.
11:23- Facebook break!
11:27- I am a bad girl. I'm not supposed to be on there today. I'm off now.
11:32- I do not like the beginning of my paper. I am liking the paper the further along I get. That isn't good.
11:38- I do not understand what that sentence means. is it bad, or am I just tired? who knows.
11:43- DONE!!! almost exactly 90 minutes after I began... half the time David took. Guess all those edits really did help :P

THANK YOU (in chronological order) to:

Colin, David, Mrs. Bond, Megan, & Rachel! You guys are amazing!!

I will upload the thing as soon as Google Docs returns to functioning.

Katie

Help?

I am reciting the Hamlet Act 3 soliloquy on Monday. Should I add in my modern interpretation (also in iambic pentameter)? And, if so, please help me edit it.

Especially lines 9, 16, 20.

To be, or not to be: there’s the issue:
Is it more courageous to simply stand,
And deal with all the problems fate will bring,
Or is it better to actively defy
The troubles, ‘til we fight them to their end?
Oh, to die-- or to sleep, it’s all the same--
Just a sleep that ends every sorrow
And all distress that people each receive.
That would be something to wish and hope for.
Dying, sleeping… but with sleeping always
There comes dreaming. That’s the one catch,
For when we’ve shed our human blames and duties,
The dreams that come would be an awful worry.
That’s what makes us prolong the agony of life.
Think about it- who would choose to bear
The shame and hardship that comes with living here,
The leaders’ abuse of power, proud men’s insults,
The pain of love unreturned, useless governments,
The disrespect of superiors, and every snub
That saints must tolerate from evil people,
If it were so easy to find rest
As sleeping? Who would carry such horrible burdens,
Groaning and tiring under the weight of life,
If not for the fear of whatever is after death--
It’s unexplored terrain, and no one returns
From its place, and it makes us wonder.
That’s what compels us to deal with problems we know
Instead of changing to unfamiliar ones.
And so our minds will turn us all into cowards,
And so our natural resolve to act
Is overcast with clouds of thought and reason.
And urgent ventures are long delayed
Until they’re no longer actions at all.

Katie

Drama

Being a hypocrite by nature, I had to write a poem/guide to avoiding drama. Because, honestly, there's too much of it.

What's the point of drama, please?

I can't figure it out.

I don't know why you love it so,

Or what it's all about.

The time that's lost in catty fights

Could be much better spent.

The lives that were so clear and free

Have entered their descent.

And all through your manipulation!

Tell me, why is that?

If I can say it plainly, ma'am,

You're asking for combat.

Truly, drama's root does lie

In simple insecurity.

What's worse is drama, as a whole,

Mistaken for maturity.

But fighting over boys does not

Necessitate this trait.

Just because you want a guy

Doesn't mean that you should date.

Honestly? If you are bick'ring

Over these poor guys...

You probably aren't ready

For your sky so full of pies.

Anyways, back to the start:

The issue that's at hand.

What's the thing that makes drama

So hard to understand?

Actually, it isn't bad,

It's quite the simple quip:

If the business isn't yours,

Then please, just zip your lips!

Do not meddle in a problem

Not involving you.

Do not confer with your friends,

Even if they knew.

It doesn't matter who you are--

You are not beyond

The pitfalls that come when you fish

In this piranha pond.

So... the point... don't meddle, don't gossip, know what is your business and what isn't. THE END.

Katie

Overachiever!

Well. Today, we (the whole school) were chastised for being inconsiderate. As a result, we all have to write a 250-word, 3-paragraph essay explaining how we are inconsiderate and how we can fix it.

Personally? I am bored of writing essays. THEREFORE, I wrote a 350-word poem, instead.

Inconsiderate
(A Poem)

Once upon another time,
On land quite close to here,
An attitude was rampant;
‘Twas like poison in the ear.
Not a person truly cared
For others and their needs.
This gave way to rudeness
And most inconsid’rate deeds.
Not to be a hypocrite,
I must confess that I
Am not the least of these, oh no-
Now, let me tell you why.
Sometimes I am not so prompt,
And on purpose that.
I figure that the mark is mine,
Thus acting like a brat.
You see: the strain is not my own--
I am disrupting class.
The teacher must feel slighted
When we come in late en masse.
Also, here in school, I find
That I can talk too much,
Espec’lly when it’s not allowed…
All things we discuss.
That’s not to mention what I say
When we do converse.
I do say quite thoughtless things--
And that part is worse.
I have a tendency to be
Quite direct and snide.
However, this gets really bad
When influenced by pride.
At home I do the same, ‘tis true;
Unfortunately so.
Also, I don’t tell my parents
All they need to know.
They like to be aware when I
Come home from being out.
However, often I do have
Better things to think about.
And so, I simply just forget
To alert my fam’ly then
And go right on to Facebook--
Inconsiderate again!
All in all, my problem lies
In my communication.
I need to be more diligent
In interpers’nal relation.
Added to that one concern
Of a timely arrival,
With it all I am assured
A considerate survival.
I know not the issues
That my fellow students face.
I know not the sins
That make them all red in the face.
However, I do understand
The root cause of it all:
A thoughtless, selfish attitude
Where others seem so small.
When we accept that people are
Worth just as much as we,
Our actions and our thoughts
Will much better be.

TADA!

Katie

PS- props if you catch the Hamlet reference :P

laaaa, laaaa, laaa, DONE!

(to the tune of "La Cucaracha")

I am finished!

My Junior Thesis!

And now, I'll finally get some sleep!

All except for that

Most annoying fact:

My normal homework load's still steep!

Katie

Tips for the Conversationally Impaired

So, last night (*ahem* this morning) when I was really really awake and couldn't think of sleeping except for the fact that it was almost 2 AM... I decided to write a song.

Because I feel very strongly about this, and when you feel strong emotions you must sing them.

At least in your head... 1:45 AM is not a good time to awaken my mother!

(For a more enjoyable experience, imagine to a country-western-ish tune with twangy guitars and shakers for percussion. Also, the performer has a sardonic expression on her face. And she is wearing pink sequins, because she likes pink sequins.)

"Better Unsaid"

I get that I'm a skinny sprout-

That doesn't mean we must talk about

Minutia of my physical appearance.

And sure, I might be kind of smart,

But we don't need to pull apart

This groundwork of my pitiful existence.

And now I say, I cannot take this!

There's something that's awfully amiss.

And so I hope you understand

My ranting, raving, crazed demands--

Please, oh, please.

There's lots of stuff out there that's true

That you don't need to say!

Remember decency, oh, do--

'Cause you're driving me crazy...

And before I shoot myself in the head

Remember:

Some things are better left unsaid.

I think there is one golden rule

To keeping conversations cool:

Think before you even start to talk.

Just because a thing is true,

It doesn't mean it will help you

Or me-- please don't persist or I shall squawk!

And now I say, I cannot take this!

There's something that's awfully amiss.

And so I hope you understand

The message of an imaginary band--

Please, oh, please.

There's lots of stuff out there that's true

That you don't need to say!

Remember decency, oh, do--

'Cause you're driving me crazy...

And before I shoot myself in the head

Remember:

Some things are better left unsaid.

And this is my song.

Because so many things go wrong

When you say weird things for way too long

And my feelings on this topic are very very strong...

So please, oh, please.

There's lots of stuff out there that's true

That you don't need to say!

Remember decency, oh, do--

'Cause you're driving me crazy...

And before I shoot myself in the head

Remember:

Some things are better left unsaid.

*thank you, thank you*

and that will be all for tonight.

Katie

Join us next time for an extensive disquisition on delusional high school boys... just kidding. sort of.