Life shall soon begin again.

Closing night today, followed by cast party. Shall be fun.

Some highlights so far:

• Less skepticism about the subject matter of Miss Saigon. 
• People telling us how awesome we are every night. 
• One of my costumes looks rather Ellen DeGeneres-esque. I will get a picture.
• Aidan wore a bright blue feather boa with his suit for curtain call.
• The anticipated creation of a facebook group called "A.W.K.W.A.R.D." where a few of us will plan to have lunch occasionally, talk about the weather and play Uno. 
• Stage makeup malfunctions.
• Tech crew's conversations, such as planning an epic celebration of multiple birthdays by the creation of Skydiving-laser-paintball.
• How our stage lights repeatedly stop functioning at random, but adjustments are made and the show can go on.
• Ben's aversion to walking further to get to the men's washroom, so simply using the women's.

Love,
-J-

Opening night.

Opening night went well. Actually, it was severely underwhelming. There wasn't a very big crowd, but we didn't expect too many people to show up on a Wednesday. Hopefully more people come the next three nights.

I'll try to get pictures of my hideous stage makeup for your amusement. I look somewhere between a doll, a clown and the results of a small child with paint. I let David, commonly accepted as the future prime minister of Canada, do some of my makeup to see how it would turn out. Not bad, actually.

I will so exhausted the next few days. Also, there's an alarm clock that's been going off for twenty minutes and I can't find it to shut it off.
Love,
-J-

♫ I remember when I lost my mind ♫

Quote of the day: "I like how most school's musicals have themes like The Power of Music and The Power of Love and Be Yourself and ours is White People Think They Can Fix Everything But Then They Just F**k It Up."

To survive the next week, I may legitimately need a time turner. Wednesday until Saturday holds costume and makeup at 5:30pm, curtain at 7:30pm and going home at around 11pm. Next Monday I have my IB French interview, which I need to spend a lot of time preparing for. So my plan is to prepare as much as possible for French tonight and tomorrow night, go through musical, prep more on Saturday before musical and Sunday, go for my interview at 11:40am next Monday and then collapse until April 19th when I go on the choir trip to Boston. Maybe I'll also read for leisure, dye my hair a funny color and go outside every now and then. 

This week obviously calls for a reassuring countdown:

Days of crazy remaining: 7

Now I shall go confront the mountain of life.

Love,

-J-

Things I don't understand the appeal of:

• Expensive socks
• Pet tarantulas
• Celebrity gossip
• The Republican party
• Smoking
• Gambling
• Obsessing over crushes
• Two and a Half Men
• Intentionally improper grammar and/or spelling
• 99% of pop music in 90% of situations
• Staying up really late without a good reason
  
• Using song lyrics to express everything
• Teenage drama and books/movies/TV shows based on it
• Scary movies
• Skipping class consistently for no reason
• Cheerleading
• Comic Sans

Love,-J-

This is a photo post with an appearance by global warming.

I went for a walk on Wednesday when I realized that it was 26 degrees C (80 degrees F) outside, in March. This faux summer is throwing me off.

 Love,
-J-

I found this note in a book in the library on Wednesday. I wish my relatives wrote inspirational notes like that in books they give me. Or that they gave me books at all.

"Enjoy this book as every person should enjoy their life; with naive expectations."

Love,
-J-

My imminent Hunger Games adventure.

"Hey, Mom and Dad, can I drive to another city with one of my guy friends and two of his (slightly sketchy) friends I don't know well, to see a midnight premier of a movie based on a piece of dystopian children's literature? But it comes out 18 hours before it comes out here!"

What I'm doing tonight sounds sketchy as hell to my parents. I so surprised that they are actually letting me. They should know what power fictional characters have over me and just how badass I am not. I mean, like 90% of teenagers are more badass than me.

Are/ when are you guys seeing the Hunger Games? 

My long weekend is so happening. Tomorrow night I'm going to see another high school's musical, Guys and Dolls. Saturday and Sunday hold long rehearsals because we open on this Wednesday.
Love,
-J-

Crazy young procpines.

“My throat feels like a young porcupine just crawled backwards down my esophagus.” - Kaelen

Seriously, all I need under this boatload of everything is a cold. I'm currently recovering from a disease related to chicken pox, preparing for an imminent french exam, 2-2.5 hours of musical practices on weekdays and now a cold?

Life keeps throwing stuff at me, waiting until I crack.

At least this song will keep me company. 

In good news, I'm seeing The Hunger Games this weekend (like, you know, everyone and their dog). I'm suppose to suppose to drive up to Moncton with a few people to see it Thursday, the night before it comes out here. Btw, no school the next day. That should prove itself interesting.

In random news, one of my friends asked if I wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons some weekend. It wasn't a bad pick up line, I swear. I said sure: I have no shame anymore.
Love,
-J-

Just another manic Monday.

Sometimes, I have a bad day and the things causing it don't go away the next day. I miss those days.

But alas, IB has turned me into a monster. I realize what a bad decision staying in IB French was. I'm not going to lie, I laid on the floor and cried today for about fifteen minutes. Now I have all my emotion out and I can actually work on things. Seems the healthy way to go about it, right?

Also, I missed the bus today because the bus driver came five minutes earlier than last week, which was five minutes earlier than the previous week. I'm establishing a bit of a hatred towards her, considering she shows up early at random and doesn't bother to tell us. You think she'd notice there was a problem when nobody shows up for the bus, but no, she keeps on going. City bus drivers are allowed not to care, but school bus drivers should have some compassion in their souls. 

In good news, it's kind of almost spring. I've been able to go outside without a winter jacket for a few days now. The lengthy city bus ride to school hasn't been too unpleasant.

(Cool story: while looking up the 'Manic Monday' cover by Relient K, I found out that they had an album of covers come out recently. Including a cover of Toto's Africa, my all time favorite song. And it's good. Honestly, words cannot express my happy. I'm like, tears happy, guys. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS FULL OF RAW BEAUTY. Way to add to my manic Monday.)

I apologize for the mental instability that has fueled this post. I was not 'born this way,' but seasoned and conditioned in the hands of the IB program.
Love,
-J-

How to lower the IQ of the entire street.

Musical is going along nicely, which is a good thing considering it opens next Wednesday.

However, one of our leads got suspended for a few days and therefore isn't suppose to attend extra circulars, including musical. But get this: it was for eating a grasshopper. I can't make this up. Mind you, it was in Bio and it was full of chemicals, but still, I can't decide whether who's stupider: him for eating the grasshopper or the school for suspending him for it. The good news is that someone gave him $25 for his fantastically stupid deed and he shows up to musical anyway.

Thought you might enjoy realizing the world is a funny place.
Love,
-J-

Wheeled scaffolding, boy bands and the ER.

This entire week was kind of a write off and today's musical practice was no exception. There was a cherry picker on stage to put up the cable for our helicopter that drops from the sky during one scene, creating constant obnoxious beeping. For safety, only people with mics were allowed on stage and only at the very edge. The chorus sat in the house and sang whenever we were needed but messed around for the rest of the time. This included eating, discussing Nick's inevitable demise of falling off Tech Crew's precarious three level rolling scaffolding for reaching the lights and that our leads are adorable and exponentially more adorable as a couple.

We also decided the male cast members in the below song should form a boy band. I mean, they're already nicknamed the"Bui Doi Boys", they filed on the stage, sat on the backwards chairs facing the audience in a very boy band like fashion and then sang those harmonies with intense sincere looks. We took it upon ourselves to decide which guy would fulfill which role in a boy band. We have 'The charming one,' 'The mysterious one with the dark past,' 'The shy one,' 'The lead one who gets all the interviews,' 'The sassy one' and a few others. We even had a wannabe in the crowd. Time well spent.

Also, I can't complain that I didn't get out tonight because I went to the ER.

Nothing serious, just shingles, which is just kind of an uncomfortable rash on a small portion of my back that has some relation to chicken pox. My mother wanted me to get it checked out so I respected her nursing opinion. In the waiting room, as she briefed me on what I would be asked, I couldn't stop staring at this poster on the wall that had SYPHILIS written in large letters. I was terrified that when I was assessed I would accidentally say,"My mom thinks I have syphilis," as opposed to "My mom think I have shingles."

The doctor was who checked me out was incredibly gay in every way and he did this sort of sassy swipe when he walked out of the little curtained examination area. He reminded me of Mr. Humpheries in the one episode of "Are you being served?" I've seen. We found it incredibly amusing.

Here's another song from musical that's been stuck in my head all day.

Love,
-J-

Pretty snow.

 

I woke up to a light dusting (er... 3 inches) of snow this morning. It's pretty. It covers up the depressing ick of almost post winter grass. 

The ballet yesterday was nifty. It was about the abuse of women, which I thought would be really strange, but it was actually really awesome. I've never seen much dance (I went to a school that practically condemned it), but I greatly enjoy seeing people with those mad skills. Ballet dancers are some powerful people.

Love,
-J-

Good morning, blogsphere.

I just wanted to let you know I feel strangely peppy and annoying this morning.

And that my gif problem continues.

Also, I'm going to a ballet this morning for Fine Arts class. I've never been to a ballet.
Love,
-J-

A list of things I appreciate:

• Laughter.
• Class long rants from my physics teacher about today's genetically engineered food.
• Sign language, especially signs for animals.
• Waking up early and accomplishing things before school.
• Playing Mumford and Sons songs on guitar.
• Coffee and tea. 
• Nail polish of interesting colours.
• My colorful $4 hippie sweater. 
• Benedict Cumberbatch.
• Writing about dreams of traveling and having a pet hedgehog (despite being in French).
• Rereading Harry Potter (on Chamber of Secrets right now).
• 8tracks.com, jazz and indie playlists: currently listening to this one. I feel so classy.
• A friend taking your phone and inserting random events in the calendar. Preparing for March 30th, 'Cucumber Appreciation day lawls jk Moriah appreciation day.' 
• Seeing friendships form between two people who need someone like each other.  
• People who want to make a difference in the world because they genuinely care.

Love,
-J-

Today's message brought you by self loathing.

I am currently a large ball of self hatred, stress, anticipation, bewilderment, guilt and mental instability.

In other words, 16 days until musical, 22 days until my IB French oral exam. And here I am, sitting on my ass, not even sure where to start preparing for the exam. Musical practices take up a shitload of my time.

I think I'll feel better if I read a few chapters of Love in a Time of Cholera for English and get up early and accomplish something. 

I hate that my self esteem is based on how much school work I can get done. Why has it come to this.

Now if you actually read through that entire down lifting post, here is a gif of hedgehogs in a sink to make you feel happy again:

 Love,
-J-

Have a cupcake. I'm being social.

 I forgot I had so many friends until this week. Or rather, I realized the amount of a hermit I have become, found social interaction without too much difficulty and felt less sad about my social life. These social interactions since Tuesday have included:

• Hanging out with Noah in Value Village and encouraging him to buy hideous clothing, simply so I can see someone pull off crazy ugly clothing. I was contacted by text message today saying that his family doesn't approve because they are the ones who often have to be seen in public with him. I REGRET NOTHING. 
• Also venturing to the sketchy store called "Mister Music" next door which excels in selling hippie clothing and marijuana apparel. Noah acquired rainbow suspenders, because he is that cool, and I acquired assorted pastel colored hemp. 
• Meeting with Moriah and Allan at Starbucks, ending up at Tim Hortons because Starbucks closed, and walking around the grocery store at 10pm because Allan wanted to show us what 'ghetto juice' was (Scotsburn juice, which comes in 2L containers for $1 or single serving bags.)
• Having a short "The Office" marathon in my basement with Margie, Kaelen and all the above people mentioned, eating spaghetti and going to youth group.
• Watching Barbie Nutcracker and (the old) Footloose with Sam and pondering what Kevin Bacon was in a past life.

See? My life is so happening.
Love,
-J-

Thoughts on KONY 2012: the truth resists simplicity.

You probably live under a rock if you don't know about KONY 2012. As a blogger, I feel obligated to acknowledge it. Here is the gist of it from my moderately skeptical mind and I apologize if I offend people ahead of time (you've been warned):

An organization called Invisible Children that deals with child soldiers made this short documentary about the head honcho of evil, Joseph Kony, the lead guy who kidnaps thousands of children, and makes them soldiers simply to keep himself alive. This documentary oversimplifies the situation drastically. I can't help but feel skeptical of some of the information they give. Some of it just doesn't quite seem legit.

I'm familiar with this organization, as they came to my school at the beginning of the year, and they are great at raising awareness about the situation with their traveling teams in vans and documentaries. But (just mull this over in your brain) a little bit of googling determined that only 32% of their money actually goes overseas, definitely not a statistic they advertise.

I know about Kony. I know about the evil things he does, simply to save his own ass. I know that he should be stopped. But I don't understand how, after decades of this, 26 freaking years, the entire internet explodes with KONY 2012. It's easy to jump on a bandwagon to hate something evil, then give themselves a pat on the back. DAMN YOU SOCIETY. A viral video is a fantastic way to raise awareness, I'll give them that. But they need people who know what the hell they're doing (insert link to article here) to arrest him, not the entirety of the first world to know who this guy is and have no sweet clue what to do with this knowledge other than write "KONY 2012" as an irrelevant comment on a youtube video. Well, I suppose raising money might be nice too, if, you know, you give it to someone other than Invisible Children. 

America, are you so shallow that stopping the thousands of voiceless people being killed and maimed is only important if your people want it? Because that's what that documentary kind of told me. I kind of don't believe it.

Maybe it's because I'm Canadian. Je ne comprende pas, mes amies.

No offense America.

Sometimes I throw arguments out there so somebody might be able to prove me otherwise.That the world is simplistic. I took World Issues, I lived in Africa: I know otherwise. Now that I've raged about a controversial subject, feel like a dick and have possibly have shattered your illusions, I can say that the truth resists simplicity.
Love,
-J-

Edit: I came across this article  shared on Facebook and it sums up much of what I feel about this situation.

March break

March Break has proved to be pretty good so far. I got go to the mall with Katie, who always seems to be working, slept at Andrea's house, who I only see once every few months and now I'm hanging out with Noah, who came down for a few days. I'm beginning to stop being a hermit.

The only bad thing so far is this random stomach pain that keeps happening at random. I have no idea what is causing this. Maybe my stomach is imploding on itself, because that's what it feels like.
Love,
-J-

In Physics121, the nerds win. Not so on the weekends.

Today I jokingly suggested that we watch an episode of Doctor Who in physics, and my teacher whipped out a hard drive, skeptically asked me if I'd actually seen an episode (all 6 seasons since 2005, BA BAM) and picked the episode "Victory of the Daleks." My physics class actually seemed to like it. 

I hope that I today I helped defy nerd stereotypes and misunderstandings about the wonderful show that is Doctor Who.

I'm now celebrating by beginning March break, a Friday night spent at home, fangirling about Benedict Cumberbatch. Which kind of does absolutely nothing for nerd stereotypes.  

However, I think myself in a better situation in life than the guy with a massive bag of weed on the bus. By massive, I mean it was like a sandwich bag full, being passed around a few guys with great pride. These guys have been on my bus for at least two years I'm yet to hear them have an intelligent conversation.

 Love,
-J-

Choir and unorthadox bowling FTW.

Today was a choir workshop thing for all the choirs from nearby districts who so chose to come. Some schools were really into it and brought the majority of their choirs, but others, like mine, only brought those who felt like it. We ended up with no tenors, and were ready to perform and let everybody believe we are not nearly as kickass as we actually are. Through a series of events, we teleported three tenors to the workshop and regained our sense of self worth. But regaining our sense of self worth wasn't hard after one choir used tracks for all their songs.

A lot of the music we worked on as a huge group was painfully unexciting, especially because one of the choir directors was, to put it kindly, a pompous ass. The conclusions that I have come to is that I managed to go to the one school nearby with a choir that's fun, plays games, jokes often, doesn't take itself too seriously and whose songs do not all revolve around death or Latin.

This was further shown by when we went bowling in the evening. They herded about 200 choir kids into a empty bowling alley rather unchanged since the 60's. About ten of us began the rather unorthodox practice of all throwing balls at the pins until they had all fallen down. However, this was accompanied by us cheering on the ball ("FUTZ! FUTZ! FUTZ"- long story), dancing, yelling, the occassional spontaneous game of Kung-fu and just generally causing a scene. Normal bowling is too mainstream for us?

I love choir people so much. The choir trip to Boston in April is going to be so much fun. And speaking of the Boston trip, I'm getting my income tax back right before that, about $300 in total. I have spending money for Boston, which is awesome because I legitimately had no idea where I was going to get it. 

March break next week, yes. 
Love,
-J-