Monday 13 December 2010

Chicago.

Last Saturday I went to Chicago with my German class.

I love the beeeean! I took some better pictures with my film SLR.


We ate wiener schnitzel at the German market!



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My hawt Chicago-shopping outfit.


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It started to rain like nobody's business. Beautiful!


The market.

Angel. :3

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I ended up having a really great time. Not that I thought I wouldn't. I just love the city soo much. The fact that it started pouring rain was a big plus, minus the fact that it was freezing. And when I came home the boyfriend came over, so... Yeah!

g h o s t i e

Saturday 4 December 2010

Paper Towns by John Green [Review]

A few days ago I read and finished Paper Towns by John Green, in two days.
I'm a bit of a slow reader, so that's a fantastic pace for me.
And believe me, it was an absolutely fantastic book.

[I won't spoil any major plot points here, no worries!]

I'll start with a synopsis:
Quentin Jacobson is just an average high schooler. He spends his time studying, playing video games with his friends, and pining over his neighbor and long-time crush, Margo Roth Spiegelman. He's just living his life, when one night, Margo Roth Spiegelman climbs into his bedroom window and takes him on a late-night adventure he will never forget.
Quentin thinks that everything between he and Margo would change after that night, and he was right, but not in the way he imagined. Margo has disappeared, and in doing so, left behind clues for Quentin to find. Quentin Jacobson puts his life on hold in order to find her. However, the more clues he finds, the less he knows, about the girl and her location.

I've never read any books by John Green before, and I was pleasantly surprised. I had high expectations starting out, and they were all surpassed. I took this book very literally at first, but about halfway in, I realized that there is so much more to it. It isn't about about finding Margo Roth Spiegelman; not really. It's about relationships, Walt Whitman, who people really are. With her desire to go on a journey and escape the "paper people" (a metaphor for people who live their two-dimensional meaningless lives without question), I can really relate to Margo. ...At least, I think I can. I can relate to my version of her. Because that's what this all really is; we each have our own versions of people, both people in our lives and characters. And these versions are both wrong and right, and I don't think we can ever really know someone entirely. Most of the time we're just seeing reflections of ourselves.
"When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out."
-Paper Towns, John Green

The characters in this book feel just like kids I might run into at my own high school. Liable to be normal and boring, but they always have something interesting (and sometimes very funny) to say. John Green is one of those adults who hasn't lost his grasp of the adolescent years, something I always admire in adults. His writing is interesting, captivating, sometimes profound, and very funny. Lines such as "Talking to a drunk person was like talking to an extremely happy, severely brain-damaged three-year-old," or "Did you just use Greek mythology to talk trash?" would make me burst out laughing (and then promptly text it to my boyfriend!). However, this has to be one of the best lines in the entire book:
"Radar threw his books into his locker and shut it. Then the din of conversation around us quieted just a bit as he turned his eyes toward the heavens and shouted, "IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT MY PARENTS OWN THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF BLACK SANTAS."
-Paper Towns, John Green
I mean, seriously.

All in all, I'd give this book five stars. I try not to give out five stars often, but this book was so freaking good. Like I said, I read it in 2 days, and that's because instead of watching TV or going online, I'd hide up in my room for three to five hours each day, and read every chance I get in class (laugh). I'll recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading. (I already have a list of people I'm going to loan my copy to. XD) I know there must be some cons to the book, but in all honesty, I really don't see them (I've read about some things people say they don't like, but I disagree!). This has become one of my favourite books.... It just means so much to me. I feel like I can't do this novel justice through this review, so I have three words for you, dear reader:
READ THIS BOOK!

"There was no planning. No time for planning. No time for a future. But then the life spans started getting longer, and people started having more and more future. And now life has become the future. Every moment of your life is lived for the future--you go to high school so you can go to college so you can get a good job so you can get a nice house so you can afford to send your kids to college so they can get a good job so they can get a nice house so they can afford to send their kids to college."
— John Green (Paper Towns)

 g h o s t i e
 John Green with the cover of Paper Towns

Chriskindl Markt!

Guess where my German class is going next week?
Chicago.
Guess why we're going to Chicago?
Chriskindl Markt.
W00!

I'm really excited for this. I love Chicago, I'm going with some good friends, it's an authentic German Christmas market, and I can get Christmas prezzies! (Ugh, I need to find more money.)
Ich liebe Deutsch! ...Well, I really don't like the class anymore (*laugh* It's because of the pace mostly. My best friend is taking German IIA as an independant study, and she loves being able to work at her own pace). But I can still speak German, and I'm extremely proud of the fact! And I really really really can't wait to go to Chicago...! Sorry! I'm excited!
I'll take pictures! This will be my second time going to Chicago.

I just found this really cool story: [link]. Basically a group of teenagers climbed to the top of an abandoned skyscraper in Chicago and sat on the ledge. The pictures are breathtaking. This is something I'd really like to do now (soo badly).
This entire blog is really fascinating, actually. I recommend checking it out.

So excited for the city. :)
g h o s t i e

Thursday 2 December 2010

Musik

List 10 musical artists you like, in no specific order (do this before reading the questions below).
1. Imogen Heap
2. Dear Reader 
3. Cinema Bizarre
4. Straylight Run
5. BarlowGirl 
6. Superchick 
7. Avril Lavigne  
8. Marie Digby
9. Within Temptation
10. Marie Digby

What is the first song you ever heard by number 6?
It was either Hero or We Live.
What is your favorite song of number 8?
Beauty in Walking Away, absolutely.
What kind of impact has number 1 had on your life?
Quite a bit. I don't know, Imogen's music just makes me so... Happy. Nostalgic. Emotional. She's the only artist who has been able to really do that to me.
What is your favorite lyric(s) of number 5?Oh, that's so hard. I guess... 'She Walked Away'.
Check 'em out.
What song(s) by 3 make you happy?
After the Rain, Lovesongs, Get Off, Escape to the Stars, Dysfuntional Family.... Their music is normally pretty serious, but most of it gives me really good feelings.<3 Oh! #1 might have to be Sad Day (for Happiness).
How did you get into 3?
I was watching videos from Tale of Tale's short horror game The Path when I came across a video to the music of Cinema Bizarre's 'Lovesongs'. I can't express how that music made me feel at the time.
What is your favorite song(s) by 4?
Existentialism on Prom Night.
I just typed 'existentialism' in my Google toolbar to make sure I was spelling it right, and I am very happy/surprised to find that Existentialism on Prom Night is listed before 'existentialism definition'!
How many times have you seen 9 live?
None, they're a European band. :( I want to, though, I'm sure they put on wonderful concerts!
Favorite album by 7?
Under My Skin. I like her older music the best. ^^
What is your favorite song of 1?
Clear the Area, absolutely.
(But also Speeding Cars and Canvas. They're almost tied with Clear the Area.)
How did you become a fan of number 10?
My momma <--- Same here! :O
Who’s the most attractive member of number 8?
She's a solo artist, so Marie Digby! She really is gorgeous.
What song of 3’s do you listen to the least?
Tears in Vegas.
How long have you known 9?
Maybe half a year? Or almost a year? ....A year?
What are your top three favourite songs by 6?
Courage, Stand in the Rain, We Live
What’s your favourite album cover by number 2?
They only have one album out! So it has to be 'Replace Why With Funny.' I don't understand the title or the cover art. XD
Have you seen 10 live?
No. :(
Have you met any of 4?
Again, no. :(
What’s your favorite album by 1?
Ugh, they're all so good. Speak for Yourself, I guess, because that's the first one I bought. ^^ Nostalgia!
Favourite lyric(s) of 7?
Keep Holding On
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

Ahh... First major snow fall of the year!
It snowed a few weeks ago, and then last week, but it never stuck.
There's been a steady flow of snow constantly since this morning. I'm pretty sure it's still going.
Apparently the exchange students were freaking out this morning! (In a good way! They're from Brazil.)

It's been a great week so far. I'm really enjoying lunches. Instead of spending them in the library, I get to hang out with Ian (the Boyfriend), Brandon, Mack, Dakota, Emily.... A lot of names most of you won't be familiar with. ;) But they're great people, I love spending time with them.

I can't figure out why I always spell 'Chicago' as 'Chigaco' when I'm not being extremely careful! It happens almost every time! I'm writing (or typing) it, then I look back, thinking, Okay, there's definitely something not right here.... But what....? Ugh. XD

Holy yes, it's still snowing!!! :D

g h o s t i e

PS. I wrote this yesterday, completely forgot to publish it. D: