Plans.

Day 300!!!!!!

Ba-boom! Pit-choo! Duh-duh-duh crack!! Chooooooooo!!!! Neeeeeerrrrrrrr boom crackkkk!!!

Those are supposed to be firework sound effects. It was the first thing I thought of. So just imagine if you will, a bunch of explosives cracking colors in the sky like a kindergartner coloring with some sort of high-speed syndrome and then erasing it. ...Or something.
I have my English writing exams tomorrow, and then Friday off. I practiced today and I can now play pretty much all of my audition music (save for dynamics, high notes, etc.)!!!! I know I've mentioned it several times, but I'm just feeling very confident right now.

I know I said I'd try to do Chapter 2/re-write Chapter 1 today, but I don't think that will happen. It's already lateish, and I sort of don't feel like doing the thing to my brain where I have to somehow pump out my ideas (and with a suddenly messed-up keyboard, nonetheless) and force it to make something out of it. I have to do that on tests, normally. It's not so pleasant, especially just starting with that blank, white expanse to fill and that blinking line, almost staring back at you, daring to finally bleed your thoughts. Plus, it'd just be much easier to sit back and listen to the lyrics of the song you're listening to, or make a new tab to watch Youtube videos or search some random websites. Basically, procrastination with writer's block.

No, but one of these days I'm seriously going to wake up early and get some fricking stuff done that I've been wanting to do for a while.

I've had a few (well, like one or two) of my friends ask "How's Paris?" or something of the sort, assuming that "a year in France" would naturally mean "a year in Paris". This is simply not true, people. France is not just Paris. Paris is not the only French town. However, I'm sure many of you wondered how long it would take me/us to mention Paris. My mom brought up today the fact that it would be a shame to spend so long over in France and not go Paris. I agree. I mean, I've been to Paris before, and it was great. But we didn't go to the Louvre and a bunch of other stuff, and it was 4-5 years ago. So, hopefully we'll get to planning something for that.

Oh and plus, I wouldn't have to be one of those "Bonnn jerrrr, oo aye la...church? Er, parrdonn, l....l'egg leez?" tourists. I mean, no offense to those people; they try. I guess. I'm just being stereotypical and judgemental. And every tourist town needs... tourists, and the French/etc. natives to furrow their eyebrows, sigh inside and proceed to speak quite good English. And on the perchance (is that correct grammar?) that you did not understand what I was trying to try to say in French, it was, "Bonjour, où est l'église?" (Hello, where is the church?) But yeah. Fluency is an amazing thing.

I want to travel in Europe. I want to travel in America. Canada. I think it'd be cool to maybe check out Amsterdam, because we always stop there for our flights to/from France, and there's lots of biking and it just seems cool. Spain and Germany could be cool, but again this is just fantasizing really. Only 2 months. But it's not as if this is the only chance I'll get to visit Europe.

Dang it. Anaheim won. So did Carolina, but I don't hate them. But there's only one Canadian team now in the NHL playoffs, Vancouver. Oh well. Detroit should win it again, man. That'd be sweet.

I've decided now to end this post, but not before pumping my fist several times and even feeling a little regretful at the meer thought of 65 days left.

Proof of Time (HALF-WAY POINT)

One half. Two fourths. Four eighths. Six months.

That's about....

182.5 days

4,380 hours

262,800 minutes

15,768,000 seconds

1,371 chats

1,600 in all mail

So that's about... 8 chats a day.

I still remember the first day, of course. And in the Detroit Airport, and sleeping in our friends's houses, and when I got to see Pascale and Jenny that one time, and the going-away parties, the much hanging out, the summer boredom, having to go to CERN to check email and chat, the much homesickness, the hating, the tests I took at the beginning of the year, that nostalgic smell in France of a waxy red with pastries and small yogurt containers and lettuce and more vegetables, my new friends, forgetting Slauson, rethinking my approach to life and all, and then all the changes. It was raining that first day. Everything was just so weird. First day of school, too- singing on the walk home, holding about 10 heavy textbooks. I kept thinking about going home, and still do.

Although I have been here for that longish stretch of time, I still get weirded-out attacks. Not so much culture shock in the more. Nah. I just still get confused whenever I think about how I, Amelia, am in France. Have been for 6 months. Just 6 more to go.

I think it took me... maybe 4 months or so to decide the trip was in fact worth it. I'm sort of "liking" it. Well, maybe I shouldn't go that far. I can live, I can find ways to not hate it, and I can somehow maintain survival. I mean, not to brag or anything. In no way how did I survive this far without my friends. But to remain from becoming too cheesy, I'll save all that... "thank you omg" stuff for... never or later. I mean, they know who they are. Or at least I'd assume so, after all of that chatting.

So here I go. Second half. Can't be that much harder, right? Whatever. Everything is everything.

And we'll all float on, ok
And we'll all float on, ok
And we'll all float on, ok
And we'll all float on, alright
Already we'll all float on
No, don't you worry, we'll all float on
Alright, I'm ready, we'll all float on
Alright, don't worry, we'll all float on

(Float on by Modest Mouse)

Absolutely NO bervems!

Today is a day of... importance? Significance. It is November 3rd, yes and most people would consider tomorrow (I'd give you my two cents on Election Day, but I'll spare you the torture) to be the big buheezum (new word). But see, today is the 121th day, and it is also marks the 4th... 3rd day of the month. And because 4 months have passed out of 12, this is also the one third mark! So boo-yah! Only 2/3 more of this... this... European experience. And it's also the start of another month, and you know what that means! It means... reflection... I guess. October was ok. Helped with the break. I think I can do this! Oh and you know that "epic" blog entry I was going to do at the end? Well hmm... might not have time. But anyway! I can sum up London in like... four words/concepts:

Rainy
Cold
English accent-y
Rainy again

And just one more for good measure:

wet/grey

But hey, I like the rain and actually London is pretty cool. I need a guitar! Like right now. And maybe my trumpet! Dude- I'm going to be so out of lip when I come back. But what the hey.

Breaking Dawn is pretty friggin' AWESOME to me. I'm on page 500, only about 300 more! I heard not many people liked this one, but I think it's great! Edward seems much better to me now. Jacob is... yeah. For those of you not familiar with the series, go check them out.

We went to the movies last night- Zach (Indian woman we're staying with- mom's friend) took us to Quantum of Solace. I saw a Twilight poster. I guess there's a trade-off, because QoS hasn't even come out yet in the States, but Twilight gets out like a month later over here. So DARN. I actually sort of want to see it. Could be a birthday present.

Random Movie Reviews by a Random Blogger (RMRbRB) Nuhm-buh One!
"Take it from me- I see a few movies and tell you what I think of them!"
"Some say I'm too harsh on popular culture... but I just give my two cents!"

Quantum of Solace

The new James Bond with that modern *grimace* actor guy Daniel friggin' Craig.

Plot: From what I could tell, some guy (Dominic Green) wanted some oil, then was after controlling (rationing, destroying) the Bolivian water supply...

Parts: I'd say this one was about 79% senseless/overdone/not necessary violence, 4% classy parties/tuxedos, 16.8% "girl-related scenes" and maybe .2% "humor".

Opening Scene/Credits: Opening Scene was probably the most violent one I'd seen; very exciting, almost painful to watch. Credits had a good theme song, pretty good/classic effects.

Gadget Factor: Nope. None of that. Even the car(s) were disappointing.

The Verdict: This movie is crap. Plot is no; hard to follow- hardly anything to follow and I just did not see the point. Just violence and a bad guy who didn't really do anything bad. More and more, the new James Bond movies become terrible and almost unbearable for me. What happened with the classics??? I would not recommend it, but I s'pose if you're one of those 007 fanatics, it's unavoidable. I did not like it, though.

Hey, but if you see it tell me what you think.

The British commercials were pretty cool. I actually sort of liked them better. The accents were enough to make me almost crack up, too.

Random Book Reviews by Some Blogger (RBRbSB)

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson

4th installment of the AWESOME series about 6 mutant bird kids.

This book seemed short and to me it didn't seem like Jimmy Pat put in his all for this one. I mean, ok, he just wrote 3 amazing books which must have been extremely hard, but I was disappointed. Was it just me or did Max not seem like Max hardly at ALL in this one? It felt rushed, I was surprised how the characters acted and the lack of action. I guess that's what you get when you don't have a strong conflict (well, "strong"). But it was Maximum Ride, and I couldn't pass it up. I'm not really sure I even want a movie though... the books are made for film I guess, but we all know how they ruin them. Whatever.

Some yeah and yeah...

Karina: yes

i wish i could play the drums

thats like my dream

me: awesome!

good dream

Karina: i have many

me: I can imagine you

in like a cafe

Karina: LOL

servin coffee?

me: in a t-shirt, ripped jeans

awesome hair

no

Karina: yes!

me: behind the set

Karina: lol

LOL

me: busting down those beats

Karina: Lol

me: and leading the band

and everyone#s like

Karina: yeaaame: omg its karina! she's on the drums! use those sticks karina! she rocks!

Karina: LOL!

amelia u rock

me: and then you get free coffee from the owner of the almost run- down shop, who wears a stained led zeppelin tour shirt and some brown cargo paints

his name's josh

Karina: LOL

me: and he plays the bass
Karina: u make everything better

seriously

me: I do???

Karina: yes!

More stuff sometime. Miss you guyses!

P.S. We've got more than 500 hits, guys! That is awesome! *pumps fist* Thank you so much again for reading this! I seriously appreciate it. Even if you don't comment. And if you do comment, you get an extra virtual high-five from yours truly. *virtual high five* Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou. You guys get free coffee from Josh too. So does Alex Johnson:



^ Best d*mn guitarist. An idol.

Writing a play > staying in house

My mom is writing a play. And today she claimed she needed space. I didn't blame her. So me, my dad and Zach went on a hike. But not without Zach triggering a major nerve (or several) in my mom. And me. Zach can be such a... such a... well fine I'll refrain from saying it, but lets just say he can be really un-nice/un-smart. He ALWAYS CONSTANTLY argues if we're going to do something. I mean, I just had to intervene with his second wave of argumentation with my dad and say SHUT UP. I didn't yell, even though I wanted to. I mean, GOD, ZACH, just PLEASE STOP THAT. Anyway. The hike was eh. It looks like Thanksgiving on the mountains. That means the trees remind me of like.. fall colors. Because they are fall colors. Exploding poofs on the side. I didn't mind the hike at first but then sort of started complaining because I was tired. I had woken up at 12:20. Which sucked. I wanted to get my homework done. So yeah.

And then I've been thinking about doing a documentary. About this trip. Should be fun. I could interview teachers and stuff. So yeah... yeah.

OH AND this is the 100th day!!!!!!!!!!! So only like 266 more!!!!!!!!!!! I'm about a third of the way done with this heck.

Aujourd'hui c'est le centieme jour!!!! And like 300 hits!!!! After like 19 days.

Clicking

It's taken 3 school weeks, guys. September 4th (first, worst day of school) - September 25 (changed from "school is eh..." to "school is yeah"). I don't dread school with intense hatred, I have some good friends, some French things are actually clicking, my schedule is pretty much all figured out and I'm SO optimistic it almost hurts. So today was awesome. I got some homework sure, and have a Spanish test on Monday, but stuff is awesome! Stuff like... this. My theory/take on things is that pretty much after Tuesday, the week is OK. Friday is nothing, Thursday I get to sleep in a little and Wednesday is a half-day.

In histoire-geographie, I don't really need to copy the notes down. So I basically just sit there, taking in the French and stuff. I sat next to Adja (the tall nice NY girl) who helped me with stuff, which was cool. I got some homework, but see the thing is, get this- when the teacher came over to explain what I had to do, I actually kinda sort of understood what she was saying! Like more than I had been "understanding". Words clicked and my brain could comprehend mostly. So cool!

And in Spanish, I knew how to answer most of the questions, but it was weird 'cause I would raise my hand, but the teacher would call on Jess mostly. But when we had to do this one thing in the class, I (thought I) knew what to do sort of. I thought the teacher said something like, "study the text for 5 minutes and write questions that could be answered from it" but it really was to study it for 5 minutes but the teacher would ask questions. I was close. I feel way more confident now. In FLE I had to do an oral test in front of the class, but I wasn't too bad. The teacher (Monsieur Besson, who was there during the French tests) said I looked nervous, and said I shouldn't be scared to speak French. He also said speaking French was fun. I like teachers that tell you not to like... stress it. It makes you so confident and feel so awesome.

During the second FLE, M. Besson mentioned us singing a song, which we weren't too thrilled about. At the end he played this thing on the computer that was like little kids singing some song about the days of the week or something. Then of course, M. Besson had to treat us to his singing of that song. Jess was close to tears and several of the other students seemed to rather have their head in a septic tank. As Jess and I were walking out of the school after, I said, "... and just think of those poor little French kids!" It was funny.

In English we're interviewing another classmate and presenting this oral 5 minute presentation about them. I have to interview this one French girl who doesn't know English. So... eh.

In Math-Speciale, I got called on a lot but I had a lot of fun on the computer with Jess and this other girl. The teacher is nice.

The September wind was like the equivelent of listening to my iPod, only better, as I went home. The grass was green and soft and the sky had puffy clouds like the Earth spilled white but tipped with purple 3-D ink on their masterpiece, the sky. My voice was raspy and low when I talked but I was coughing less and my nose didn't have so much snot. I was smiling and hungry, and couldn't practice my trumpet. I grabbed my backpack straps as I ran on French pavement, thinking "awesome".

There's tomorrow and the rest of today (THIS IS MY 100TH POST!!!)

After I posted this post at first, I noticed this was the 100th post!! So I clicked on the little pencil thing to edit it, and now I'm writing this! So yeah. Wow. 100. That's a big number. For that special occasion, I'll do something special. How 'bout like... if you comment on this post, I will bring back a... something cool from Europe. Or do something cool. Just ask. Now, if you live in like... a place that I can't go to, then sorry. I'll just do something cool anyway. So and those comments have to be worthwhile. Not like, "This is a comment. Where's my Nutella?!?" No. Like, a good comment. That makes me smile and think you're cool. If you want. Thanks.

Ooh I need your love babe, yes you know it's true

Hope you need my love babe

Just like I need you

Hold me, love me

hold me, love me

I ain't got nothing but love babe, eight days a week

Eww. A drop of sweat just plopped down on my leg. I am just soaked. I was just out running. It was pretty fun. For some reason, I have to stop every once and a while to stretch 'cause I get cramps. Ugh. I listened to my new playlist. It was cool. I ran a little past the school and back. I have a habit of worrying about school. And that's not different this year. I think if I was going to Slauson, I wouldn't be worried hardly at all. But since I'm not, I am seriously worried. But I'm trying to get into the mindset that the grades this year DO NOT MATTER and I should just focus on having fun. Because you know what? I get one life, and why look back and see sadness and worry? Think outside the weird world of worry. I'm going to really try not to kill myself. Because there's no point to worry. I know I've said this same rant several times, but hey, I didn't make you read it. Anyway. I'm about to practice my trumpet- those lyrics up there are from one of the songs I can play. (It's called Eight Days a Week by the Beatles if you didn't know- good song)

I have the rest of today (which is about like, 10 more hours or so) and then all of tomorrow, and then some of the next day. Then I take 4 tests, half of them in a different language. Whatever. I will try my best, of course. I normally get good grades. Anyway. I'm trying to stop talking about that.

You know what's ironic? Like, seriously- what happened today proved that optimism works (like, stuff turns out alright) and that life can be SO IRONIC it like HURTS. Well, ok not really. It doesn't actually cause physical pain, but - ok I'll just shut up and tell you what happened.

While I was sitting outside on our porch eating breakfast with my mom, I mentioned that I wanted to order 2 books (Breaking Dawn and the 4th Maximum Ride) and she said she had sent over a box of good books from our house, and they would've come by now, so they're probably lost or stolen, she said. So I thought, "Oh. That sucks," because it did. But guess what happened? I bet you can guess. It's really quite obvious.

A little bit after that conversation, my mom went downstairs after hearing the door ringer thingy. I heard her talk to this like person and then say thanks. And then she brought this big white bag into the room and said "This really nice guy just carried up my heavy bag of books!" So then I opened the bag, and there were the books she sent over. Wow. Just.... wow. I mean, do you guys see how incredibly ironic that is? That she just magically brought the fact up that her books hadn't come, and then in the SAME DAY they came. That is like... freaky. So anyway.

I'mago practice my trumpet. I enjoy doing that. I sort of always did like playing trumpet, but sometimes it just got boring. I've also been listening to a lot of music (as usual) and lip-synching. Lip-synching is like a second nature for me. I want to make music videos. If you think that's stupid, too bad. It's fun.

It's weird; somehow almost all of my posts get to be like many paragraphs. I dunno why. Perhaps I write a lot. Oh, and also I've been writing down lists of like my top ten favorite guitarists. I'll probably post it on here sometime.

As always, thanks for reading my blog. Comments are appreciated of course.

Hope your summer has been better than mine. Mine was pretty much a waste after July 1st. Sigh.

Oh my gosh- my mom just got the New Yorker. That is surprising because she changed her address and they actually sent it. Amazing! Yeah ok. It has a cool cover, as always. A teal-ish pool with people in it. They cost $4.50. I'm going to stop now. I should probably take a shower sometime today. Again.

I'm going to leave with this note: I just now remembered that I used to like to smell my dad's sweaty armpits. I'm serious. I LIKED that smell. I think I do still. How's that for gross?

And no I'm not saying jk.

Into

NO, I did NOT copy this from Tina, I already had this idea! But anyway, yeah I'm going to have to leave to France. WHY? Because, ok, so my dad is this scientist and there's a "particle accelerator" in Geneva, Switzerland/ France, so he has to do work over there. He used to go for shorter amounts of time before, but now WE have to be dragged along and stuff. So, yeah. It does really suck, but on the other hand, THERE'S THE MOTHER LOAD OF BAGUETTES OVER THERE!! I mean, when I went there before in 4th grade (summer) we had bread (VERY Good bread) every frickin' day. And there was nutella (choc/hazelnut) and stuff....and...stuff? Yeah and plus I get to make a blog! Which will HOPEFULLY be read at least ONCE! I'll try not to bore you, but honestly, how can France be boring? (Don't answer that question)

Besides the baguettes, going to France WILL really suck. I mean, I'll be missing 8th grade, so I won't know ANYTHING about Pioneer and I'll be behind. Plus, all of my friends will probably LEAVE me in High School because I won't be cool enough and I'll miss band. I SO, SO SO wanted to do 8th grade band and jazz band. I mean, what, I did 3 years of band for nothing?? Sure, I could do it in High school, but I won't know as much and I probably won't make the tryouts. But anyway, on to lighter things...THERE'S A HOCKEY CLUB OVER THERE!!
If you liked hockey as much as I do, you'd be as happy as a pig with dirt after hearing that. I mean, I get to play with SWEDES!! Those are supposed to be the best! And plus I'll be like the only teenager and supposedly that's better and there's no checking. AND I get to bring back a jersey!! How awesome is that? The jerseys are awesome!! Alright, I must go...the neighborhood kids want me to play street hockey, so yeah.