Hello world, my apologies for the absence.

What has happened since I posted last? Hm, everything.

My 5 sisters and I took a trip up to Austin to see Jason Mraz last month. I don't know what to say about him except that he's flawless. He's the best performer I've ever seen. I didn't know that someone could be the most imaginative/brilliant lyricist, compose the most amazing music, AND perform better live than on albums. It's ridiculous is what it is. Can I marry him?

Annie left me. Frowning face. I'm kind of paralyzed without her here now...I always forget how much I depend on her when she's here. Gah. Why can't we all just stay in one place?!

So I've been going to physical therapy for about 2 months now. My back is fairly messed up. The scary word "scoliosis" was thrown around, along with the less ominous-sounding (but apparently equally serious) "hyper mobility." Then there was something about my hips not being aligned, and something about excessive motion in my lower back. Blahhh. I'm not supposed to pick up kids, wear high heels, stand with my knees locked, slouch, pop my neck or pop my back. As of right now, I'm 0 for 6. :( But I'm working on it. Really.

I think I'm slowly letting go of something that I've been convinced was my dream for a long time...theatre. For years, that was my planned major. A while ago, I changed to music, saying that I would minor in theatre. I'm pretty certain now that that's not going to happen, as I've found something else that I enjoy more, have more talent for, and can use more: foreign languages. I'm in love with French, and I know that I'm good at it. As soon as I finish it, I'm starting Italian. After that, I would love to learn Portuguese, Romanian, Arabic, etc. etc. etc. I'm really excited about it.

School is going fine. 3 of my 5 classes this year are at Northwest Vista. Which is great, but I feel less and less like a homeschooler every day. :( But Vista is good for me, not just academically. I've been getting so many opportunities to proclaim Christ and defend what I believe while I'm there...it's exciting!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Saturday--enjoy this beautiful weather!

Labels: we're all breakable girls and boys

My beautiful Annie is finally here. It feels amazing to have all my siblings in the same city. For a big family, that's kind of a big deal. :)

So I've been reading all of my earliest blog posts from 2006. My goodness, was I thirteen or WHAT? *shudder* I've drawn a veil over thirteen. The only upside was that when I first started, people actually read my blog. And commented on it. And I actually cared quite a bit about what/that people commented.

I've been so happy lately. Just in general. Life is good. Recession what?

I auditioned at the San Pedro Playhouse last week. I don't know if anything will come of it, but I just went pretty much on the fly and sang Don't Cry For Me, Argentina from Evita. It was a good experience.

I've been working on trying to be more gracious and patient. It's a work in progress.

If you love me, you'll shoot my dad an email and tell him that Rice University is where I need to be!

Labels: i'm just sitting on the shelf

I've been having a lot of fun lately with Facebook's own photo software, Picnik. It's quite fascinating, and I spend way too much time with it.

Example:

This semester is almost over! I'm so excited...maybe I'll get to start sleeping more. That's nice.

I've been having back pain this whole semester, and finally, it was bothering me so much that I asked Mom to make me an appointment. So I went to Wilford Hall yesterday, and the osteopathic dr said that my hip was out of place. So he popped it back in and adjusted my spine. OW! It's supposed to help...after at least 48 hours.

And of course, the day I got my spine adjusted, I had a birthday party to go to...which happened to be at a dance hall (aka my heroin). So what did I do for two hours? I danced. A lot. By the end of the night I had shooting pains up my back. But at least my hips are aligned!

So today I'm very sore. All over.

I've added several movie trailers to my sidebar--both movies that I have recently seen and ones that I very much want to see. You should check them out. Please keep in mind: just because I've watched it, that does not mean that I liked it! I most certainly do not recommend Twilight or Traitor. Cadillac Records was not very good, but watch it if you like music history movies. Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'aime was extremely depressing and unredemptive, but the acting was phenomenal. Never Back Down was decent, for a fighting movie. Changeling and Slumdog Millionaire are NOT TO BE MISSED. They were both genius, in very different ways.

Now I'm going to get ready for DAD TO COME HOME!

Labels: up down up down up down up down

Yes, I realize I have not posted for a while. My apologies. Spring semester has something else.

I met a girl at Northwest Vista on Monday (almost never a good idea). I was sitting in a common area waiting for my class, humming (many times I find myself humming without realizing it). This was our conversation:

Girl: Are you humming???
Me: Oh, yes.
G: Do you LOVE music???
M: Yes. I really love music.
G: What is music?
M: [puzzled] Well, I don't think that music can be defined--it's something you experience but you can't put it in words.
G: Oh my goodness! I've never met someone who's agreed with me before about music! Most people don't even know that music has a taste!
M: [shocked] [trying not to laugh] Music has a taste?
G: Yes! You haven't tasted it?
M: [almost speechless] ...I didn't know that there was one.
G: [speaking slowly so I'll understand] There is a certain wine than tastes like music! You drink it, and you've tasted music! You've never had it????
M: No...to me, music doesn't have a taste.
G: [dejected] Oh. I thought you understood.

Oh my goodness.

Aside from being at home, my favorite place in the world is my grandparents' house. CJ, Beth and I went up to Fort Worth last Sunday to kick off spring break by cleaning their house and spending time with them. When I'm there, I feel like I have nothing to worry about and no place better to be--it's like time is frozen. We wanted to stay till Thursday, but for several reasons we had to come back on Tuesday. I was so, so sad. Pawpop had planned several things to do while we were there, including the Omni theatre and the Gaylord Texan, which made us even sadder because he was sad we couldn't stay. I cherish every minute I'm there--hearing Pawpop and Grandma telling stories of their amazing lives, looking at pictures, watching the way they talk and act with each other...it's priceless.


Grace be with you all.

Labels: all the gold dust in her eyes won't reform into rain

Christmas was wonderful. Also busy. Activities this December included a Christmas dinner for my NVC French class, Christmas recitals at Castle Hills, COG Christmas party, Gaines' Christmas party, Cookie Day, Christmas sleepover at Nicole's house, COG Christmas Eve service, Christmas in Fort Worth and going to see A Christmas Carol at the San Pedro Playhouse. And it was all great.

Did I mention that my one-year revocation of AAFES privileges has ended? It's fairly exciting.

You'd think that after going through 15 cats like laundry detergent, I would remember never to try to bathe a cat by yourself. Always have someone (preferably an older brother with nothing better to do) to scruff the cat so she doesn't claw you to death while you shampoo her.

For Christmas, I got a book called Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. I'm really enjoying it.

I also got Notre Dame de Paris, a French musical that I love, on DVD. It's a BEAUTIFUL musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel. The first time I heard the opening song, "Le Temps des Cathedrales", I was hooked.

That's all.

Message for San Antonio: If you're going to stay warm, fine. Suit yourself. If you want to be cold, then BE COLD AND STAY COLD! If you would please just pick one for this season and stick with it? That'd be great. Many thanks.

The good news is that I got a 98 on my French midterm (highest score in the class). That's about the only good news in that area.....

Guess what! You'll never guess, so I'll tell you: I can go back to AAFES in less than a month! I should make a chain.

I was disappointed with "The New World." I wish a movie would decide whether it was going to be a historic period film or an artsy, psychedelic film, and not try and mix them. The result was a painfully boring, intensely aggravating and (I need not mention) historically inaccurate disappointment of a movie.

That's all.

Labels: nul ne sait le pays d'ou je viens

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

My sisters are gone.


It's been a bad day.


You know the saying, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"?

It doesn't work.



Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what he deems best, lovingly, as part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. Every day, the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour. All my cares He feign would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Power. The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid, "as your days, your strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He made. Help me then, in every tribulation so to trust Your promises, O Lord. That I lose not faith's sweet consolation offered me within Your holy Word. Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take as from a Father's hand. One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.

I have officially completed my list. Now I just have 3 others to finish.....

So here you have it, my first edition of the Top 20 Best Love Story Films

I do appreciate feedback, please tell me if you love or hate these movies, which movies you think should be on there, etc. because this is (not yet) the definitive list. It still needs some reworking, which will come in part from critique (and mostly from Nathan helping me). Still, this was very deeply thought out, and I hope I shouldn't have to make too many revisions. Also, the final list will be complete with my commentary on why it makes the list. Enjoy!


20. Dear Frankie (2004) - Gerard Butler, Emily Mortimer
"How could he ever leave the two of you?"

19. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe
"No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you."

18. Elizabethtown (2005) - Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst
"Now we actually have a shot at being friends."

17. Anne of Avonlea (1987) - Jonathan Crombie, Megan Follows
"I've loved you as long as I can remember. I need you."

16. Once (2006) - Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
"What's the Czech for 'Do you love him?'"

15. The Notebook (2004) - Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams
"I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough."

14. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) - George Peppard, Audrey Hepburn
"I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!"

13. Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day (2008) - Lee Pace, Amy Adams
"I want you to marry me, and it's a one-word conversation."

12. The Illusionist (2006) - Edward Norton, Jessica Biel
"The only mystery I never solved was why my heart couldn't let go of you."

11. Pride and Prejudice (1995) - Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle
"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

10. Titanic (1997) - Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
"You jump, I jump."

9. West Side Story (1961) - Richard Beymer, Natalie Wood
"Hold my hand and we're halfway there."

8. The Princess Bride (1987) - Cary Elwes, Robin Wright-Penn
"Death cannot stop true love--all it can do is delay it for a while."

7. Moulin Rouge! (2001) - Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman
"Every day I love you more and more."

6. The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - Patrick Wilson, Emmy Rossum
"Love me, that's all I ask of you."



5. Across the Universe (2007) - Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood
"She's just the girl for me, and I want all the world to see we've met."

4. Return to Me (2000) - David Duchovny, Minnie Driver
"When she met you, her heart beat truly for the first time. Perhaps it was meant to be with you always."

3. Stardust (2007) - Charlie Cox, Claire Danes
"Love can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing."

2. Casablanca (1942) - Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
"Here's lookin' at you, kid."




1. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Robby Benson, Paige O'Hara
"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast."

Labels: to love another person is to see the face of God