I would begin this post with, “Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been very busy” which is entirely true. However, that’s simply the generic post for people who really haven’t posted in a week because don’t have anything to say, not because they’ve been busy. Yesterday I watched one of the best movies I’ve ever seen (quite possible better than some of my favorite Miyazaki movies). The conclusion of the film festival was yesterday, and with a great choice for an ending, Dancer in the Dark was shown. That was the most depressing movie I’ve ever watched - I was practically silent for the rest of the night. It really made you just stop and shut up at the end of it. It was like everything you thought was important before - Apple’s switch to Intel, stores closing early on Sunday, the Backstreet Boys - float out of your mind. Of course, then I had a musical dream in which Björk and I were singing in my school’s guidance office.

I do have a legitimate reason for not posting for the next week and a half though. I’m going to New York with our French Friends so we can talk French, go on tours in French, maybe in we try hard enough, be a bit more like them. Of course, they’re much better at speaking English then we are at speaking French, so the division of languages will probably we unfairly tuned to English. Ah, Manhattan. In the middle of summer. In Manhattan.

Well, I must part now to go to a sudden matter involving a surprise outing in Dunlora and a spot of water. Toodles,

#m

Ah, what a day. True, I spent 6 hours in the car, almost finishing my summer reading, but it was actually quite pleasant. You see, Howl’s Moving Castle opened last Friday in 36 theaters, the closest one being in Arlington. As I have already explained, I was unable to attend it last week, but it opened to a wider release of 200 screens this week. Unfortunately, the closest one was still Arlington. Oh God of Anime, why have you played this cruel trick on me!? So it was today that I made the pilgrimage to the Shirlington 7, my new home away from home. Mmm, I could taste the sweetness of the film slowly deteriorating into oblivion, but bringing a thousand tears of joy with every step on its journey.

I sat in the very middle of the theater (there must have been less than a dozen people there), surrounded by Japanese 8-year-olds. The previews began, I got ready for my 119 minutes of my first Miyazaki movie in a theater. The screen went black, and the familiar sounds of the opening music of the trailer filled my heart with a warmth it hadn’t felt since I watched that unicorn movie when I was five where the unicorn died. The Japanese title went up, and the “Howl’s Moving Castle” caption graced the bottom of the screen, hovering above the bottom of the screen. And then a character spoke. IN JAPANESE!!! Through some sort of forgiveness of whatever I had done to anger the God of Anime, he forgave me, and lead me to a subbed version of my love. And the best part, no Jason Marsden screwing up Haku’s voice! (who is a talented voice actor, but went in some crazy direction in that movie. I’m afraid I will never watch the English dub of Spirited Away ever again)

It may take a couple (or every possible) liberty in regards to the original story which I read 18 months ago after I learned of the coming movie, but I loved every second of it. I can see what people are talking about when they say it’s full of anti-war messages, but so freaking what? It’s not like anyone was under the illusion that Miyazaki was a conservative extremist or anything.

I am severely upset. You see, Howl’s Moving Castle, a movie of course created my Miyazaki (and if you didn’t know that, I suggest for your own safety that you keep that information secret), opened on Friday. Problem A: It’s in Arlington, meaning it would take longer to drive there than the movie would actually last. Problem B: My parents have deemed it imprudent to drive for a total of 6 hours just to watch a 2 hour movie. Hello, it’s Miyazaki! I will remember this moment for the rest of my short life - the theater, where I sat, the strange taste of the pop straw, leading me to think it was laced with RAID. It could very well be one of the most important moments of my life! Yet no, we must wait until it opens in more than 36 theaters. Humph.

I can’t believe I’ve never talked about this before. About a month ago, my French teachers was talking about languages that were helpful. French is very helpful, she said. So are Far Eastern languages. She seemed to think Spanish wasn’t that helpful though. Because, “Despite the mass amounts of Mexicans migrating across the border into the US, there are many other languages we could be learning other than Spanish.” By the way, we have a girl in our class who is from somewhere in Latin America. “Oh, but I don’t mean you [referring to the girl]. You’re just visiting for a year, that’s ok. AND an educational visit, at that.” Let me paraphrase - “As long as you stay in our country for only a short time, and it’s purpose is educational, we don’t mind you staying here. However, if you plan to live here, or are simply moving here for work, we’ll label you as some sort of migrating race who shouldn’t be allowed in.” I’m afraid I failed to show the true horrible nature of that comment in my summarizing (and typing fast so I can’t get to the Film Festival).

For all you people that are complaining for my recent lack of posts, I have an explanation (though I’m not compelled to give one. Just because some people post every other day, doesn’t mean it’s required! Life is short, seize the day, or praise the Queen!). I’ve spent the past week transcribing conversations about differentiation in Vermont, with tape quality that makes it sound like the interviewees are chewing food. Plus, I read a 300 page book and wrote a three page reflection on it. ADDITIONALLY, I’ve been stressing out about a decision to take AP Chemistry next year, which is insane and means I will have to do a science fair project Junior year after all! Good grief.

It’s taken me a few days to recuperate after the last week of school. Despite my irrational fears going into Friday, my exams went fine. Unfortunately, everyone finished the History exam with about an hour left before the bell would ring. Now, normally this would be fine, but this meant Veronica was bored. Very bored.

Mr. Prather graded our exams, and I learned my grade. Very exited, I began to jump around. Veronica, who had gotten hold of a red overhead marker, decided to write, “I got an A!” on my forhead. Ok, so I would look weird all day, so what? But you see, Veronica did not stop there. She then proceeded to take a bottle of white out and draw lines all over my face with it. Next came flowers, hearts, American flags, trees, piercings, and that was just on my face. Mr. Prather spent the time amazed that I let Veronica do this to me. Then she got the idea that she should show my rippling muscles. My arms desplayed her beautiful artwork of a monkey, his house, clouds, rain, fireworks, “I’m a ripped GOD”, cows, and random lines. Oh yeah, and a unicorn. With utters.

And now, the pictures:

And this is AFTER I washed my face.

Flowers. Straight out of a truth ad.

At least I think it’s a cow…

Clouds and trees gracing my glorious flesh.

As soon as Hello stops being stupid, I’ll post the rest of them.

Last few days of school, 15 hours and it will all be over. So what happened this week? Let me tell you, my little mothballs, let me tell you. Wednesday I was inducted into the International Thespian Society (yes Helen, THESPIAN!). It was good and jovial, and apparently it has been decreed by the all powerful Annette that I am to join Forensics next year. There goes my life at home.

Exam day tomorrow. I have the pleasure of being allowed to take my health exam - 2 hours, 190 questions, not being allowed to pick up our pencils if we drop them… Somehow I’ve started to dread the health exam more than the History exam. You see, History can actually be sort of interesting (for further reference, see the post I made at the beginning of this school year), whereas health is… unhealthy for my sanity.

I’ve always enjoyed seeing how people are finding my blog, and it’s wonderful when I see people’s search words. Today for example, I got a hit from someone searching for, “i’m afraid of wasps”. I’ve gotten many hits for mail order sushi, and more than a few for Grudge vs. The Ring. I’m bored at the moment. I’m getting sick of transcribing interviews about differentiation for my mom’s dissertation. I’m going to coin a new term now: “Boo yo!” Isn’t it great? Just picture me walking into my History exam tomorrow, and greet everyone with a jolly boo yo! I think it’s going to be the word of the year - it’s totally going to catch on. Like whoa is nothing next to boo yo.

#m