Sweet Digression

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For the past three years, my favorite band has been Tegan and Sara. I’ve been meaning to see them live since I first listened to ‘Walking With The Ghost’ but was never able to find a good day to go.

This weekend, I went! The doors opened at 7:15, and we got there at about 6:30 to eat beforehand. I legitimately couldn’t eat, though, because I was really excited. By the time we got in line, it was 3089540835 miles long (or, you know, not). It went by quickly and we ran into the venue. While waiting for the opening act to start, I bought a huge Tegan and Sara poster! (I can’t find an online picture of it, but it’s amazing and on my right as I write this)

There were two opening acts. Both were incredibly talented, but lasted a very long time. And then…Tegan and Sara! They opened with ‘The Ocean’ (one of my favorites from Sainthood).

And then they played Speak Slow, The Cure, Alligator Tears, Nightwatch, Where Does the Good Go, Nineteen, So Jealous, Sentimental Tune, Call it Off, Redbelt, Arrow, Back in Your Head and Hell (though not in that order, and I’m definitely missing some). Tegan was on the far left for most of the performance (and at one point, she pointed out that those on the far left seats couldn’t see her, and they should switch with those in the front row mid-performance. During Arrow, she also pointed out that she would be on the keyboard, making it sound like a guitar because Sara can’t actually play guitar)

But of course the best part of the concert was their commentary/banters. Sara started with one about AM radio (”it was like…twitter”) and how she regrets not being an R&B artist instead of an Indie one.

Later they talked about their stepfather, Bruce, and how they were attached to him when they were younger. They also talked about how they had become musicians, and everyone’s original reaction to it (”We’d travel, and on the way we’d visit family. What I then thought was love and excitement at seeing us, I now realize was fear and judgement.”). They talked about how Sara was once ‘Most Improved Piano player’ and Tegan ‘Best Piano Player’ when they were little.

Tegan later complained about her lips being chapped, and someone threw her chapstick (”Someone gave me lipchap. Thanks! Oh, Sara says I shouldn’t use it…”). She also made a ‘that’s what she said’ joke and everyone cracked up, because it was hilarious.

Then they left, and everyone cheered for an encore. Being awesome, they came back. But they didn’t do just one song! They did a couple. They played My Number (I never thought I’d get to hear that live, because it’s older, but SO GOOD), Walking With The Ghost (being the first song I’d ever heard by them, I was really happy to hear it!), Feel It In My Bones (which I had only heard once before and loved!) and Living Room (which I freaked out about, because I LOVE that song live).

Four second clip of ‘Walking with the Ghost’

Every time one of them would start to tell a (somewhat) serious story, the other would interrupt and make the whole audience crack up. Their interaction is so fun to watch! So basically, if you ever have to chance to see Tegan and Sara live…DO NOT HESITATE. They are fantastic live, charming, hilarious, quirky, adorable, talented, AWESOME. I would have posted videos but my friend and I are laughing through the banters and singing along to the songs.

I really hope I get the chance to see them again soon. They really are my favorite band ever.
(Buying a TnS hoodie wouldn’t be at all weird, would it? Because I’m a second away from buying one, so tell me that’s okay!)

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I’ve seen a bunch of people mention their organizer/planner/whatever lately (a bunch of people seem to have a Moleskine, which I was a moment away from buying), and it made me realize…I actually use a planner this year!

I start off every year saying that I’ll use one, because I crave organization (ahaha). But by second quarter, I usually give up. Not this time though! I’ve made into second semester still using one.

Granted, I cheated. I had a planner since September, but as soon as I got my Harry Potter planner, that planner was left on my desk, where it will stay forevermore (I actually own three planners this year, my HP one, my first one, and a school one)

Reasons to love it:
1. It’s Harry Potter. It’s IMPOSSIBLE not to love. Here is a picture:

2. I love the organization. It’s so nice, I’d be lost without my planner!
3. Great when I’m bored. Seriously, doodles = Love. And I can rewrite all my homework pretending I’m at Hogwarts *lame*

How about you? Do you use a planner?

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I swear, there are way too many networking sites out there right now. And I always tell myself I won’t join them. But I have a Facebook, Mugglenet…and now a Twitter.

I’m not really sure what made me want a Twitter, the site was pretty and it sounded a step above Facebook in the way of stalking (just kidding, really), so…voila!

My Twitter.

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[Someday - Tegan and Sara, I’ll stop quoting eventually]

I really need a school break. I know that one of my resolutions was to stop always wanting what I can’t have, but my resolutions are sort of failing anyway.

I took my midterm exams this week. Being a freshman, this was my first time taking high school exams, and it wasn’t really a pleasant experience. Biology especially.

My math exam was more difficult than I ever expected, ever. I sat there for two hours, confused out of my mind on three problems (there were about thirty total). It was mind-numbing, I basically got home and cried for an hour.

Language and Literature was a bunch of writing. We read a short story by Sylvia Plath and had to answer questions and prompts on it. Pretty simple, but I got a hand cramp. Also had to write an essay on ‘Lord of the Flies’ (as much as I originally hated this book, I kinda love it and recommend it now).

History was slightly more difficult than expected. I love history, and I’m normally good at it (A+ both quarters so far, had a 99% for a good portion of first quarter), but the questions were phrased strangely. At very least, I don’t think it brought my average down (and I honestly don’t think I did too poorly).

Biology was 170 questions. No joke. Plus 2 free response questions. I studied all weekend and for a total of about four hours the night before. I got to my exam room, hyperventilating, and covered my ears. I cannot talk about a test before or directly after the test. I freak out that I forgot something, did something completely wrong, etc. I don’t need that stress! The exam was relatively decent though and, with 170 questions, I don’t think I scored too low. Fingers crossed!

On the bright side, I should still have mostly As this quarter. One or two Bs (GAH!!), but I’ll try and fix them next quarter and not stress too much right now.

On the bright side, Tegan and Sara concert next month! <3

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-Beaches
-Bright sunlight
-Not wearing seven thousand layers
-Running barefoot through fields
-Flipflops
-Biking miles upon miles with my friends
-Ice cream
-Going to playgrounds, swinging, taking photots
-Down time: no homework or exams
-Flowers
-Pretending the world looks like the picture on this layout
-Shells
-Windblown hair
-Camps
-Missing school (yes, I miss the feeling of MISSING school)
-Getting bored
-Sunglasses
-Shopping downtown in the sun and running around the college campus nearby
-Shorts and tanktops and light hoodies
-Jumping over hoses
-Waterguns
-Reading books under shady trees
-Doing volunteer work
-Hiking
-NOT going to the mall, because there’s so much other stuff to do!
-Picking flowers
-Not freezing to death

Oh wait.
I guess I could have just said,
I miss summer

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-DW spoilers-

David Tennant, I already miss you. I cried so much at this regeneration. No, not the regeneration, the companion visiting.

Matt Smith, welcome. I think you’re going to be brilliant.

/Short entry

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Bit late, but here’s a recap of 2009. And completely out of order, as I think of them

1. I started high school, survived half my first semester.
2. I read ‘Deathly Hallows’, which I’ve been meaning to do for years. I cried for hours and absolutely loved it.
3. I got unlimited text messaging, which sounds random, but I never really text messaged before.
4. I started Debate and placed for State’s at my first tournament.
5. I participated in my first mock trial, and won (and I hyperventilated)
6. I bought my first pair of high hells
7. I stayed up til midnight at my friend’s house, rather than with my parents (New Year’s Eve)
8. Took a train with my friends to the city, then a subway, and it was amazing.
9. Had my best friend move away.
10. Took Health class twice, just to hang out with my friend.
11. Didn’t finish my Halloween candy.
12. Discovered spicy shrimp tempura rolls
13. Began watching House (and stopped at the end of Chase and Cameron’s relationship)
14. Tried out for (and didn’t make) the volleyball team, and did debate instead
15. Took my first elective, and am quite happy with it.
16. Opted for all the higher placement courses and realized it wasn’t as easy as I had thought.
17. Discovered the Muse.
18. Saw Twilight, hated it. Saw New Moon, admitted it was decent.
19. Saw Half Blood Prince, completed my life.
20. Started using contacts again and stopped, again.

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(Hell, Tegan and Sara. THEY HAVE A NEW ALBUM.)

Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone! I really don’t ‘09 to end, I feel like I’ve only just gotten used to writing it on my papers (at the beginning of this year, I was still writing ‘07, time passes too quickly…) But maybe that’s okay, because I have a Harry Potter agenda/planner now!

I’ve always made resolutions, every year. Before I started blogging, I’d write them in my journal. It never made them easier to keep, but I’m actually going to try this year. So here we are:

1. Keep at least one resolution (minus this one): I’ve never been able to, so maybe this year will be different.
2. Get all As: This is generic, and it really is my resolution every year. But I always have one class (one, always, it’s ridiculous) in which I get a B+. It’s very sad, but not this year.
3. Pick a sport: That’s just this year, not school year. Whether it’s a winter or spring sport (I can’t really do fall, as I have debate, but I suppose I could try out for volleyball again?)
4. Read: I love reading, but for the past two years I just don’t have time and can’t find good books. So, goal. Read at least a hundred books this year (that actually is very possible, I read two hundred or so one year). But I still refuse to read books I dislike (ahem, Twilight, anyone?).
5. Document it all: By this, I mean take pictures. I really want to start bringing my camera everywhere, but I always forget it and end up regretting it later. It’s very sad, so I’m going to try remembering it.
6. Stay organized: My binders and such are actually organized to perfection this year, and I’d like to keep it that way. So I consider this a resolution.
7. Remember that the grass isn’t always greener…: I find that I always want what I can’t have. Not even in a materialistic way, just as the seasons come and go. If it’s winter, I WANT summer (like right now). If it’s summer, I crave snow. I know it’s how most people work, but I’d like to try and be happy with what I have (and enjoy every season…)

Happy New Year’s everyone!

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So I watched Sherlock Holmes and the end bit of The End of Time yesterday.
(SPOILERS)

The Master returned. It’s been hinted that he’s going to be the one to kill the Tenth Doctor. I remember last year, when I first found out David Tennant was leaving, I threw a total fit. If I had known that it would bring about the return of John Simm’s Master, I wouldn’t have minded as much.

I don’t even mind that he’s taking over the world.

Also: RTD? You’d better have a pretty damn good explanation for why the Timelords are back (and if it’s ANYTHING like your explanation for why Romana is dead, or how Davros returned, I’ll be disappointed) (I will, however, forgive it, maybe, because the Master is back for now)

Apparently you shouldn’t see Sherlock Holmes if you read/liked the stories. But I hadn’t read the stories (minus one I had to read last year) and found the movie to be really good. I loved the filming, the acting was great, and the humor was better than half the comedies I’ve seen lately.

Anyone else see The end of time/Sherlock Holmes? Anyone else plan to?

Random edit: OMG THE NEW TEGAN AND SARA ALBUM IS OUT. This is indeed a good holiday season.

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And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun…
Merry Christmas (to everyone who celebrates, happy holidays to those who don’t!)!

This has been a great holiday season. There’s still snow out, I got my computer, I got chocolate, and we watched family videos from a couple of years ago that I totally forgot about (with cousins I haven’t seen since). My friends and I are also going to a Harry Potter exhibit (for the second time!) and having a New Years’ Eve party soon. It’s all gonna be amazingly cool.

Happy Holidays to all! What are you all doing/what did you get for the holidays?

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