they call it gushing

If you know me well, you know I obsess over things. When I like something, I really like it, and I'll probably be babbling about it to whoever will listen- or really whoever's standing nearby, wheather your listening or not. I know I'm annoying, but I can't help getting excited about things.

Like London.

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I love everything British. One day I will live in London. I can not wait. I'll develope a British accent, drink tea every day, use a red tellephone booth, and live in a 'flat'. It will be quite fantastical. Even though I haven't been there yet, I obsess over it quite a lot.

I also obsess over books. books like the hunger games.

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(This was my favorite part by the way ^.^)

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Two months since I've read these books and I'm still  gushing over them. It goes without saying I am also obsessiong over Peeta, right? I mentioned before that he was my "fictional character crush". Charming, chivalrous, brave, but always kind and thoughtful and sweet. He's a rebel like katniss but much more civil and graceful about it. I can't wait to meet him in real life ;)

And the movie is coming out on march 23 guys! I really hope it does the book justice. Judging by the tailers I think it will, and I'm super excited to little tiny pieces!

I also obsess over songs.

okay, this one I could go on and on until the sun and moon no longer endure. However, I think the computer is going to crash under my obsessions as it is, so here is a much, much shorter version of songs I currently have on repeat:

Two Birds by Regina Spektor

What I wouldn't Do by A Fine Frenzy

If You Ever Come Back

And every once in a while, I'll obsess over a tv show. like BBC's Sherlock.

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What I love about Sherlock:

He’s British. I know I was just babbling about London a second ago, How I am absolutely in love with everything England, but it’s true and this point can’t go unnoticed. The first time Sherlock starts explaining his deduction in the cab, I couldn't understand a word he was saying because he was talking so fast. But it was all in a British accent and I couldn't help sitting there grinning like an idiot.

He’s eccentric. He talks to skulls, shoots holes in the wall when he’s bored, and texts murderers. He also plays the violin if you must know. He’s a brilliant psychopath. When Sherlock first comes up on the screen, He’s beating a corpse with a riding crop to see how long it takes for bruises to show up. My friend told me "He sounds strange," but that’s what’s so great about him!

 

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His best friend Doctor Watson. Watson is by far the more loveable character. He genuinely cares about people. He’s the only one who can see the more humane side of Sherlock, the good and heroic side. I could really go into more detail but you should just watch the show and see for yourself.

I haven’t seen the second season yet so please don’t tell me any more what happens *clamps hands over ears*. I’ve already stumbled across a lot of spoilers, but I still don’t know exactly what happens. Needless to say, I’m on pins and needles waiting to see it.  

So that’s a little of what I’m obsessing over. Hopefully my computer stays intact even with my ramblings.

TTFN

summum bonum

I was hoping to get this up the day before valentine's day, but it's never too late to think about love, right? of course right.

So I read this today, and It's one of those things you read when you go "Yes, yes, YES," so ofcourse I feel I have to share it here on my blog. It's so convienent with valentine's day and all. It was in a book so I don't have a link but I typed it out below:


The Greatest Thing in the World

           

            Every one has asked himself the great question of antiquity as of the modern world: What is the summum bonum--- the supreme good? You have life before you. Once only you can live it. What is the noblest object of the desire, the supreme gift to covet?

            We have been accustomed to be told that the greatest thing in the religious world is Faith. The great word has been the key-note for centuries of the popular religion; and we have easily learned to look upon it as the greatest thing in the world. Well, we are wrong. If we have been told that, we may miss the mark. I have taken you, in the chapter you have just read [1 Cor. 13], to Christianity at it’s source; and there we have seen, “The greatest of these is love.”

            It is not an oversight. Paul was speaking of faith just a moment before. He says, “If I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” So far from forgetting, he deliberately contrasts them, “Now abideth Faith, Hope, Love,” and without a moment’s hesitation the decision falls, “The greatest of these is Love.”

            And it is not prejudice. A man is apt to recommend to others his own strong point---Love was not Paul’s strong point. The observing student can detect a beautiful tenderness growing and ripening all through his character as Paul gets old; but the hand that wrote, “The greatest of these is love,” when we meet it first, is stained with blood.

            Nor is this letter to the Corinthians peculiar in singling out love as the summum bonum. The masterpieces of Christianity are agreed about it. Peter says, “Above all things have fervent love among yourselves.” Above all things. And John goes farther, “God is love.” And you remember the profound remark which Paul makes elsewhere, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Did you ever think what he meant by that? ... If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law.

            And you can readily see for yourselves how that must be so. Take any of the commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” If a man love God, you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law. “Take not His name in vain.” Would he ever dream of taking His name in vain if he loved Him? “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Would he not be too glad to have one day in seven to dedicate more exclusively to the object of his affection? Love would fulfill all these laws regarding God. And so, if he loved Man, you would never think of telling him to honor his father and mother. He could not do anything else. It would be preposterous to tell him not to kill. You could only insult him if you suggested that he should not steal- how could he steal from those he loved? It would be superfluous to beg him not to bear false witness against his neighbor. If he loved him it would be the last thing he would do. And you would never dream of urging him not to covet what his neighbors had. He would rather they possess it than himself. In this way “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” It is the rue for fulfilling all rules, the new commandment for keeping all the old commandments,

Christ’s one secret of the Christian life

-Henry Drummond


let God show you the true love, His love.
and then show that love to others. love extravegently, passionately, without restraint. love selflessly, without expecting anything in return. let it consume you and give meaning to your day. because without it the day is wasted.

Happy is the heart

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SO. I was thinking of doing a normal blog post about valentine's day- about how I love making cards, all the fresh flowers and the pastel colors. How we have a whole day to celebrate love. Which is pretty cool, seeing as we don't have any hollidays celebratin happiness or virtue or hope (even if these are wonderful things) because love is special.  1 Corinthians 13:13

but instead, I'm going to be realistic here. Don't get me wrong, everything above is one hundred percent true. But I'm going to show you the rest of it too. What my Valentines day really looks like.

In other words the not normal and just plain cheesy parts.

First, I don't have a 'Valentine'. and I'm not desperate to have one either. Again, I could do the norm here and say Jesus is my Valentine (which of course again, is true, as he is my true love) but the truth is I don't care if I have a valentine because I don't need one to have a wonderful day full of love.

This morning when I woke up my siblings and I say "I love you, I love you, I loove yoooooou!" In Buddy's voice (Anybody seen Elf? ;) and laugh about it as only we can at eachother's cheesy jokes.

I spent the rest of the morning with my baby sister 3 year old sister. We went to the book store, shared a chocolate chip scone, went to the playground and took a few pictures.  

And then three of my greatest friends and I had lunch together.

see, this is what I mean by not needing a valentine. I got people who I love and they give me candy. Admittedly, I ate that before I took pictures :)

One of my friends gave us all pink play dough. I think that's one of the best valentine's gifts I've ever gotten. This is what the next two hours looked like for us:

playdough, pictures, chocolate, and talking about nothing inparticular. probably not what you did, but it was great :)

(and obviously I wasn't in the greatest photography mode today, apologies)

and then I took a nap. a valentine's day nap. I read Through the Looking Glass. and then I did chores and had dinner. 

and now I'm here listening to Everybody by Ingred Michelson. perfect.

Happy Valentine's Day guys <3

okloveyoubye

it's hard to say i'd rather stay awake when i'm asleep

Inspired by Bookworm's post

I've heard that we have six or seven dreams every night. We remember one at the most. I think our memories are rather cheating us there because, in my humble opinion, dreams are quite wonderful.

"At that point in their lives everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream..."

-The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo

I'm the kind of person that will try to fall back asleep in the morning just to finish a good dream. What's the first thing you think when you get up in the morning? I think Ah, shoot, it was only a dream...

"Thomas ordered me to hit him on the head so that he could dream," Mikil said. "Evidently he has the ability to learn things from his dreams."

-Red by Ted Dekker

If only I could catch my dreams and keep them in a jar like fireflies. I would keep them on my nightstand like a lamp. I'd take them out every once in a while, lay them all out and look at them like photographs.

I was sleeping with the night light unplugged
With a note on the rocking chair
That says, "I've been dreaming of the life I once loved,
So wake me if you're out there."
-Owl City

What kind of dreams do you have? I think I've dreamed in pretty much every way possible.

You seem so real. Sometimes I forget that this is all a dream.

-Alice in Wonderland

Sometimes I dream in black and white, sometimes in colors so bright it's other worldly. One time I dreamed in black and white except all the girls had bright pink bows and the guys had red ties. I've dreamed I was ice skating on a pirate ship. I've dreamed I was a mermaid except I swam in the sky instead of water. I dream as other people. I have never once been able to scream in my dreams, it's horrible.

I have boring dreams too, like last night when I dreamed I was playing a video game.

            He stretched out his arms and declared the truth of the matter. "This, dear sister, is a dream. We're actually in a dream!"
            "Stop messing around. You're not funny."
            "Say whatever you like, but this isn't really happening right now. You'll say I'm crazy because you don't know any better- how can you? You're part of the dream."

-Black by Ted Dekker

I can control my dreams a lot, but I usually don't realize it. Like I'll be running away from the bad dudes in a forest and think, Oh, I hope a bear doesn't come through those trees. Guess what happens? Yeah, a bear comes.

            "Did you have bad dreams again?"
            "Only one. It's always the same ever since I can remember. Do you think that's normal? Don't most people have different dreams?"

-Alice in Wonderland

Sometimes I confuse my dreams with reality. I had a dream that my little sister was driving and she kept crashing. I woke up screaming "Holly! I am never, ever, ever, letting you drive again!" To this day I am nervous about her driving.

All the same, I still love my dreams. It's the only time my imagination gets to go crazy as reality is blocked out. What about you? What kind of dreams do you have? Or am I just completely weirding you out as I ramble about dreams?

P. S. Bonus points if you can guess where I got the title from :)

TTFN

It's like a story, except not really

I'm late! I'm late! for a very important date! no time to say Hello, Goodbye! I'mlateI'mlateI'mlate!

- the white rabbit [Alice in Wonderland]

I went back and forth deciding whether or not to join Katie's Monthly Blog Thingy, Snippets of a Story.
In the end I decided to do it (even if I was a little late, and I don't have much to post) because I promised myself to get involved in writing, and I loved Katie's idea of putting together a few favorite snippets. Nothing special, just some randomosity from my writing endeavors :)

and yes, randomosity is a word, google chrome spell check is lying.

            Cale grabbed the guitar case from me. "You're an idiot," he said.
            "You're ugly," I reply.
            "You smell like fish."
            "You run like a girl."
            "You nearly got us killed."
            "There's a bomb in that guitar case."
            Cale opend and closed his mouth. He glanced at the case he was holding. He tried to say something again, but again he closed his mouth. Ah, sweet silence. I would have to bring bombs along more often.

-from Aevitas, my unfinished nanowrimo novel

            “Where did you learn to throw knives like that?” Breck said.
            “I would go out to the woods and practice. I wanted to be ready if I ever saw a single bloody Beetle.” Addie said.
            “So the whole time I was gone, while I was trying to protect you, you were playing around with knives? You were planning on using them?” Breck's voice rose.
            “I tried knitting for a while but I couldn't quite get the hang of it.” she said coolly. "Besides, I doubt the best sweater in the world could have protected me from a sword."
            "You wouldn't need protecting at all if you had stayed put." Brian said.
            "Children, children, am I going to have to separate you two?" Aurel said irritably.

-from the story I mentioned earlier (I still haven't found an appropriate title)

            Diana had imagined many things to fill her empty past, she had doubted some things people told about her, but she never doubted James. James was real, he was here, with her. And that's how it's always going to be, She decided.

-from The Blank Page

            He didn't stop, instead his voice rose higher.
            "They say they want freedom, they say they want justice, but do they do anything about it? No! They sit there like a lump of coal waiting to be burned. I won't join them. I won't stand by and watch. If I'm going to die, let death find me doing something a normal human being would be doing."
            "Something normal. Right. Like single handedly trying to save the world and all that," I say.
            "Exactly," he said. And for the first time that morning he smiles at me.

-from Aevitas,

            Diana took a deep breath through her nose. She tried closing her eyes to focus on the smell, but they fluttered open again. She took it all in, the birds singing, the breeze's kiss, the brightly colored flowers that seemed to grow just for her. Did the sun usually shine this bright? No, today was a special day. A new day, born for her.

-from The Blank Page

            The dim light coming from the lantern in the hall wasn't enough for me to make out Cale's face. 
            "I can't see you," I whisper. I felt like anything louder would shatter the eerie silence and something bad would happen. I felt his hand grasping mine.
            "Yes, they obviously don't like to waste electricity on jails," he said just as quietly. "Maybe they just care about the environment."
            I didn't have the strength to reply. He was trying to cheer me up, if only half heartedly, but it wasn't working. Not this time.
            "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Kyra," he whispered. "We're going to save this world yet, you wait and see."

-from Aevitas

            Sophia looked once more at the ruins around her, at the decay, the ashes, the few pieces of smoldering metal. Yes, when death decided to come it waited for no one, and it chose no favorites. Why then, was her heart still beating in her chest? What had she done to deserve an escape? Nothing. She thought. It's not fair. 
            Who knew she would be standing here, and not the least bit glad she was alive.

-from my titleless story

Be sure to see Katie's blog for the other's posts and link up if you can :)

TTFN

yours truly

Dear Math Teacher,

Just because you talk slowly
it doesn't make it easier.

Sincerely,
confused student

Dear [unknown number],

Yes, I am very sure this is my phone, not your brother's.
That won't change no matter how many times you text me.

Sincerely,
very annoyed

Dear Sabrina,

Way up there,
You and I
You and I

it's been on repeat all day

Love,
also obsessed

Dear Spring,

I think you should come early this year.
like soon. now.

yours truly,
tired of the cold

Dear Sherlock,

Even if your show wasn't awesome-
What am I talking about?
Of course it's awesome
It's full of British accents

sincerely,
a fan of high-functioning sociopaths

Dear Sydney,

One day you have to take me
to the beach in Elsalvador.

Love,
amante del mar

they call it wanderlust

Oh it was wonderful, James! I had never been there, and I had never seen some of the strange things there, but it felt like home to me. And to think I never knew the place existed.

-from The Blank Page my book in progress

Wanderlust. Yes, that is a very good word for it. for the feeling of homesickness, but not the regular kind- the kind you feel for a place you've never been. for a new and exciting place. because you don't want that place to just be a picture or a story- you want it to become familiar to you too. to wander there as a vagabond, so that place can help carry some of your story.

 And to think I never knew the place existed. yes, I've definitely experienced that feeling. with the chocolate shop in pagosa springs, with the farris wheel by the beach, the little cove with colorful stones by the lake-  how many more places like that are just waiting for me out there?

yes, i really do have a bad case of wanderlust. it's eating me up inside, it's pulling me to the window at night to look at the stars, it's dancing just over that rainbow in a teasing way, it's whispering the stories of all the things beyond that horizon, what does it look like from that hill, I wonder if that tree will hold me, is this map really telling the truth?

I want to stop wondering and just wander.

Awkward and Awesome

awkward

This conversation:
Me: how do you know so-and-so?
Him: you introduced us.

Dancing; then your mom walks in and asks you if your okay.

Getting halfway through a story, and realizing there's no point to it.

*update* thinking all day that it's Thursday, till you look at the calendar and realize it's actually Friday.

awesome

Dustfinger and Gwin from Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

These glimpses we are having of warm days finally!

Getting a driver's permit (driver's beware)

The Hunger Games movie is coming out soon! Okay, not till March, but it's soon-ish.

TTFN