Sara's Adventures In Wonderland (a.k.a. the Plano DPS)

Where to begin?

Well, there was definitely nothing as cute as a bunny rabbit with a watch, who was very late for an important date. More like two cavities who got me the day off, and a numb face. And then there was the two trips to the DPS within the same day. So, that required driving the 25 minutes from Sachse to Plano, back from Plano to Sachse, again back to Plano from Sachse, and then after about 5 hours again back to Sachse from Plano. Let's just say it was a very long day.

The first trip was just to learn that we needed about four documents that we didn't have. The second trip was to sit from about 1:30 to 5:15, then to stand for about 15 minutes in lines, and then to wait about 10 to 15 minutes for her to get my information together and take my picture.

I spent most of the day alternating between my lit reading (Alice In Wonderland) and having discussions about how the DPS could be better and when we might have to come back with my Father.

But even though my day off was wasted sitting in a hard chair smooshed between an old Indian man and a middle aged Asian man, it was definitely one of the best days off I've ever had. Because the next morning I drove all by myself to work. And today I drove my own car, (well really "my" car) to work. And tomorrow I plan on having plans that don't require my mom's involvement, or anyone else's mom's for that matter, or even a friend's involvement in getting me around.

The Puzzle That's Ruling My Life

So I blame this for stealing all my time:

Promised Pictures And an Audrey Tribute

I promised pictures...and here they are!! I love this poster so much <3 She watches me put my makeup on.

I also love how I can see her reflected in the mirror so that there are two of her.

I watched special features on "Breakfast at Tiffany's" last night, and one of the director guys, I believe, wanted Marilyn Monroe to play the part Audrey Hepburn played. I thought that was a strange coincidence.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
~Audrey Hepburn~

"“I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.”"
~Audrey Hepburn~

"I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone."
~Audrey Hepburn~

"The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of."
~Audrey Hepburn~

"There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion."
~Audrey Hepburn~

"I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's."
~Audrey Hepburn~

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”
~Audrey Hepburn~

"do you think think shes talented? deeply and importantly talented?"
~Audrey Hepburn~

Obsessive Posters

I have an obsession. And that obsession happens to be with movie stars. Not the silly Megan Fox's and Twilight stars, but real movie stars. Marilyn Monroe. Audrey Hepburn. Enough said. I have purchased another poster for my room (pics coming, since my camera is being retarded and needs batteries, and since we have no batteries or battery chargers it could be a while). This poster is of Audrey Hepburn and it's an outfit she wears in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I also bought the movie for $6.50 today. It was on sale, and who could resist such a cheap, but great movie? I really need to stop this obsession with such posters. But it's very difficult. Well adieu for now, I am going off to watch the special features for "Tiffany's" and to hopefully hang my poster asap. But I can't find the nails and hammer...

Classically Beautiful Audrey

My new obsession: Audrey Hepburn. I think I'm fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. She's so interesting, and misunderstood. And I understand the stereotype of being blond and pretty, and not being taken seriously for her roles. But I love Audrey Hepburn. She's adorable, and classically beautiful. She has wit and charm, and can talk incessantly. I love "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I watched it several years ago, and recently remembered it. Now that I'm older, and more into those sorts of romances, I simply adore it. There is just some sort of appeal to their romance, and her life. She lives that fake, glamorous life, and he does too, to an extent. And they have to give it up, and truly respect each other for it to work.

I'm currently watching "How to Steal a Million" with her in it. And I am loving it. It has the same sort of humor, the quick wit, and banter. But she is a different character, and she portrays her differently. The humor is similar, but not the same, a lot of it is more humor oriented than "Tiffany's". It's one of those strange, awkward comedies, where they are put in odd situations. But it's a lot of good, funny quotes. And Audrey has caught me. I love her, and I intend to watch a lot more of her movies.

My Love of Jane and Miss Heyer

Georgette Heyer is like a drug. Once you read one you must read them all. You're addicted. You have to finish the book. You have to finish all you can by Heyer. She is truly remarkable. I love Jane Austen, but I have often bemoaned the fact that she never wrote more novels. Of course, her novels are superior in quality to Miss Heyer's, but Miss Heyer definitely has quantity, if not the same quality. Jane (I can not refer to her as Miss Austen, I know her far too well) wrote with a complexity and poignancy not quite on the same level as Miss Heyer. But both incorporate a humor and love for the ridiculous. Miss Heyer's novels are definitely reminiscent of Jane's, and often they are a mixture of Jane's tales. But Jane will always hold that foremost place in my heart and soul. I love them both, each in a different way. For each of their specific qualities. They each feed my imagination in a similar manner, and each holds high standards for their work. It is impossible for me to shun one, or the other, I need them both. I love them both. And I'm such a fast reader that I will never have to choose between them.

An Update on Art

Turned in my museum paper today. I think it turned out pretty well. It's hard to describe art though. Even pictures never do the actual piece justice, but trying to describe a work using such a limited vocabulary is hard. I can't explain with my words the way certain works of art make me feel. I can't always explain exactly why I find something beautiful. I hope my professor likes my representation of the works of art, and the way I incorporated the textbook. Because it was hard. I wasn't exactly sure what he wanted from me.

Unconditional Love

I just spent the day with someone I used to know everything about. It was the weirdest experience. I suppose once you're that close to someone, no matter how much you change, or how much that person changes, you still have those years in common. We still had those little things, like those posters that used to hang in her room, and the Bible she let me borrow, and I ended up keeping, in common. There were just little things that I knew what she was talking about. And even though she knows nothing about me now, and I know nothing about her anymore, deep down, somehow, we know each others souls. Because we've told each other deep and secret things at the urging of 2am in the morning. And we've laughed so hard we've cried together. And we've cried so hard, we had to laugh. And even though our relationship obviously didn't work out, and at times I wondered if it was even real, I think I know that there were moments when I have seen that girls deepest being. And that no matter how we want to feel about each other now, that can't change the fact that we know we have much in common. It's harder to not feel love for someone that you know their deepest struggles and turmoils. And no, not passionate love, but the love Christ has for us. A sort of unconditional love, even though this love isn't quite the same, and has many flaws. It is a love that is impossible to avoid. Even though there are things that just stand in the way, we can't help it. It's as though, on the inside, we speak the same language. But I think it was healing. Being together reminds me of the good times, so that I no longer dwell on the bad. Reminds me of the truth, so I forget the lies. And though it will never go back, and I can never feel the same way about her, I can move on with my life. Knowing that I have played a role in her life, and she in mine. And that we have touched each others souls, and been in the right place at the right time for one another, even though it was several years ago.

Transitioning from Pirates to Classy

So I hung my super cute, new, Marilyn Monroe poster up. And I love it. It makes my room so much more mine. I guess I've never really done anything in my room that was really truly me. And this is me. It's super cute, yet classy in a way. It's more mature and grown up then my Pirates of the Caribbean or High School Musical posters. And the frame gives it a really nice touch. It just looks so clean, and classy.

Excursion

I spent my afternoon most pleasantly. Me and one of my good friends went to target, and found tons of fun stuff. I bought a $5 pouch, that fits my ipod perfectly. It's the prettiest shade of blue, with a cute, orange peace sign on the front. I bought a beautiful purple shirt, with black design on the front, and random sparkles. It was on clearance for $6. I found some pajama shorts for $4 that are really cute, and comfy, and a lot of awesome, $1 E.L.F. makeup. I really like the E.L.F. makeup. My friend and I ran across it one time at target. I bought some different eye shadows, and have found my favorite eye shadow of all time. Today we went to a different Target, and they had a different selection of makeup. I bought an eye shadow applying brush, and duel mascara, with regular and waterproof mascara, and a bronzer. Each one was only a $1.

We then made our way to Micheal's, where I bought a Marilyn Monroe poster, and frame for only $20 combined. The frame alone was regularly $20, and the poster was about $11. But the frame was 40% off, and I had a 40% off coupon for the poster. I've already framed it, and hung it up above my bed. It's adorable, with four different Marilyn faces on the front.

After shopping we ate Pei Wei, and went to see Iron Man 2, which was a pretty good movie. Not as mind blowing as Inception, but a solid movie unto itself.

We spent about half our time together laughing, and making good-natured fun of each other. What started as a not so great day ended on the perfect note. I love those kind of days.

Murder!

Murder! a 1930 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock was definitely interesting. It's quite amazing how far our technology has come. The picture was unclear, and the sound quality lacking at times. It was Hitchcock's third talking movie. It's a mystery story, or really a who-dun-it? story. There was only music at the beginning and the end of the film, and often there were awkward silences, but in a world so obsessed with perfect quality, perfect music, perfect people, it was kind of refreshing. It was a short film, only a little over an hour, but it had a quality about it I liked. I love old movies. I love to think how shocked and incredulous such greats as Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, would be if they saw all our IMAX theaters and 3D technology. To watch one of our polished 21st century films. And it makes me long to know what people 80 years from now will think of our movies. If they will smile indulgently on our attempts at life like works, just as we sometimes do. If they'll just view our movies as steps towards truly great works. Old movies, old music, old anything fascinates me, as does anything new. The events of time excite me, to know that what we have achieved is great, and there is greater yet to happen.

Accomplishments

I love that feeling of getting stuff done. It's 2pm, on a Monday, and I have managed to sleep till 10:30, read some chapters of my current book, take an art test (that isn't due till Thursday), eat lunch, take a shower, put makeup on, watch an episode of Remington Steele, and order a refill for my prescription at CVS. And I haven't even gone to work yet. The only other thing that could make this day better would be to get my iPod. But I'm not getting my hopes up. Wouldn't that be the perfect ending though? To come home from work tonight, to find it waiting for me on my desk? But if that does happen, it will most likely happen tomorrow when I get home from work.

Anyway I'm pretty much just rambling. And slightly bored. Having accomplished these things, I have little else to do. And a little less than an hour to kill. I'm reading another Georgette Heyer book at the moment, and I'll probably work on it a bit more. It's a little different flavor from her others, but I think I'm liking it so far. And Remington Steele is slowly coming to an end. I have only a handful of episodes left before the show is finished. I'll miss the silly humor, the quirky characters, and the all the murders. But all good things must come to an end. As must a blog post.

To Be Young

Sometimes I forget what it was like to be a kid. I forget the hours I spent playing Lego's with my brother, and Playmobil with my best friend. I forget how often I would go swing in our backyard. And all the times I played make believe with our plastic dishes and the berries that were on our trees. I forget about the elaborate camping ground I built for my little plastic people, and how I loved to create houses, and rooms full of detail for any of my little people. My dad built me a huge bookshelf/dollhouse. The idea was it was like a bookshelf, with different "floors" and on each floor were different numbers of rooms, and in each room I created a living space for my toys. But before that, before it got all fancy, I would make entire houses out of books. I would use books to represent a room. Or sometimes, I would even lay two books together to create one big room. I would make a whole floor plan, and from there add furniture and little people and make a story. Or I would use the flat building board for our Lego's, and I would build walls and furniture for my little Lego people. I loved to create and organize. A characteristic that I still have. I love organizing things as efficiently as possible. Making as many rooms on that Lego board as possible. Or fitting as much furniture on a book as possible. I read a lot. From this world of stories I would create my own. I would make stories for my dolls. And for weeks I would try to leave my book house up, or to keep my Lego house the same. But after a while it would have to be picked up, or a new way of organizing the rooms or furniture would come to me, and I would start all over again. I think my favorite part was the building of the house, once that was done, I would play a little longer, but it wasn't as fun. Often, I would create a house, make it beautiful, name my people, come up with a story, then wreck it all and move on to a new thought.

I wish I could go back. I wish I could pull out those play things, and find those specific gray books that were all about the same thickness and worked so well as a floor plan. I wish I could find all that beautiful furniture and create rooms and stories once again. But I'm almost eighteen. And such childish things must be put behind me, and sometime, maybe, when no ones looking I'll go look at all those old play things. But for now I have to pretend. Pretend that I don't long for those days. That I don't wish to be young forever.

Contentment

Mmmhmmm, stuffed jalapenos and making A's in art, what could be better??

Well, I just thought about that, and came up with a few things that I wish would be better. But in the moment, right now, sitting here in front of my computer, being bored on facebook and eating those delicious jalapenos there really is nothing better. There is nothing that would add to this moment. It's complete contentment and happiness.

The sad thing is we lose sight of these moments in our everyday lives. And they really don't come often enough. And they pass. They pass, oh, so quickly. And the next minute the contentment, along with the jalapenos, seem to just disappear. But you think back to that moment, and there is nothing more beautiful. Nothing more worth living for, than the joy that seems to burst randomly at odd moments in even the most mundane of circumstances.

An Anniversary and Accomplishment

I have made it a little over three weeks, constantly updating this journal. I'm impressed.

On another note this day...no this week...has been very productive. I've done quite a lot of reading for my class, had a dermatologist appointment, bought an iPod, going to get my hair highlighted, and now I am going on a long promised movie date with one of my friends to see "The Crazies." I just hope it's not too horrifying.

I don't have any more time than just this quick note, but I didn't want to get lazy now!

Apples, Art, and Clutches

Today was full of very interesting events. I have learned to hate the Apple Store. The disorganization is maddening. My brother and I went, at great risk to our lives, to a local mall to visit the Apple Store. The button on my iPod Touch has been jammed, most likely from a collection of just plain crap getting caught. We spent most of the time waiting for someone to be free to talk to us. There were a good 15 employees there, and not one of them was very helpful. After setting an appointment to meet with someone who knew what they were talking about, we went to lunch and returned. Again we waited a good 20 minutes to finally talk to someone about getting my iPod fixed. He pretty much told me it was ruined and that I would have to spend $200 to get it replaced. I could spend a bit more than that and get a lot nicer one than the one I had. So we braved my brother's car to get back home.

Apparently the clutch would keep going out on him. Now, without a clutch, let's just say driving a manual car is very exciting. There were a few times that he had to restart the car after killing it.

After getting home I spent sometime in the sun with my Art Appreciation textbook, and I must say that time was well spent. I made a 92 on my first exam for that class. And I think I'm going to like it. I already love my professor: he's communicative, understanding, but takes no crap and has high standards. I think it should be a really good class. I hope to get ahead in it too.

Oh, and did I mention I ordered a refurbished 34GB 3rd gen iPod touch off the apple website? Because I did. I just want something that is not gonna break on me. I always end up with the crappy item, so I just pray this one is awesome, and amazing, and if it has anything wrong I can figure it out before the year warranty is up.

Thoughts on the Classics

A question came up in my mind randomly the other day: who exactly decides what is a classic? I mean we always say things like "oh, "Gone With the Wind" that's a classic!" But what does that really mean? I was thinking about it, and I realized that the books I love the most are not necessarily classics. Yes, I do really love Jane Austen and "Gone With the Wind" and several other good classics. I don't understand why "Anne of Green Gables" is such a big deal. I infinitely preferred the Emily series by the same author, L.M. Montgomery to "Anne". And one of my favorite love stories and self discovery stories is also by Montgomery. She wrote "The Blue Castle," a story about a women who has little time to live, and feels she must cram as much life into a short period of time. It's a beautiful story, and one of my favorite books. I relate to the main character on so many levels.


Many people of read, or at least, heard of "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, but not many of heard of the "Small Rain", the most emotional book I have ever read. I cry when reading books, I cried when Dumbledore died in the Harry Potter series. But I have never cried so emotionally as I did after reading that book for the first time. After about a years time elapsed I read the book again, and I was filled with just as much emotion, though I bit different one. I was filled with anger, and not quite so many tears. It's a beautiful, yet very painful, very harsh book. The reality is hurtful. And draws up images of ones own life. It was L'Engle's first novel, and has a realness, though bleakness her others don't quite match. It is not a fairytale, or a love story, it is pain. It is a story of growing up, of pain, of dealing with hurtful people, of injustice, and severed friendships. Reading it from two different points of my life it effected me differently, but still as strongly. If I can ever evoke half as much emotion in a person as L'Engle evoked in me through that novel, I will view my life as having meant something.

Rain and Shoes

Today I spent the day at the mall...I also spent a lot of money. But it was truly worth it.

This was my first day off in 8 days. The only thing that really ruined it for me was having to get up at 8:30 for taekwono. The day was very bleak, lots of dark, ominous clouds, and horrible humitity. The cement flooring of the pavilion we meet at was covered in different puddles from all the recent rain. Doing jump front kicks barefooted on wet cement was definitely not ideal. And there were a few times I was scared I was going to slip. The first 15 minutes of practice was devoted to discussing sparing. I do not want to spar. I will fail miserably. I am not as devoted to taekwondo as many of the students are, and I'm scared I'll either hurt someone, or more likely, hurt myself. But I have a while to worry about that. And I don't expect to be ready for any belt test anytime soon.

After practice we went over to the Chick-fil-a. Today is cow appreciation day, and so a good deal of people were dressed up as cows to celebrate the day with a free meal. I have seen more cow customes in one day than I have ever seen in my life. It was a very strange experience.

A lot of interesting people, and some communication issues later I went to the mall with my best friend Amanda and our friend Jason. I must say I went on a bit of a shopping spree. But all if it was necessary to my happiness...of course. And I bought a lace cami at Aeropostale that I had wanted for quite some time. And it was unsale for half the price I was about to pay for it a few weeks ago. And I bought two pairs of super cute shoes and an awesome little clutch purse with tons of extra space in it for money and cards. I was so excited about my shoes I took the tags off and proceeded to wear them about the mall...at least until it started raining. We talked in Sonic for a good long time during the wild rain outside. I am so excited about my cute new shoes. One pair are blue flats, and the others are more like flat tennis shoes, checkered in all my favorite colors. I cannot wait to wear them.

This was by far my best day off in a long time...despite a little rain, and slightly because of my super cute shoes. <3

A Cashier Story and High Praise From a Professor

Today was the end of three things that have been major factors in my life these past few weeks.
1. The stupid buy 10 items, get $3 off sale at work.
2. The last day of my first summer semester for college.
3. (This doesn't truly apply till tomorrow). The end of an 8 day work streak. I can't wait for my day off on Friday.

And now my story. A middle aged man, probably in his late 30's early 40's came through my line today. Well, that's not really where the story starts. I was standing at my register, looking in the other lines to see if there was someone who hadn't already put their items on the belt yet. And I caught this man's eye. He came over into my empty lane and said: "I saw you're beautiful eyes and couldn't resist coming through your line." I had the sudden urge to laugh, but instead smiled, and I think I thanked him. It was by far the highlight of work. It was just so creepy and funny.

My lovely blue eyes:


And I have one last random story. My professor emailed me an awesome e-mail. This made my day.

"You've clearly benefited from excellent home schooling and caring parental oversight. You're a very good writer, Sara. The one point I would like to make, is take time to proofread carefully.

"Occasionally you make a grammatical error that I think you should be able to catch with careful proofing, but you're an impressive writer. I especially like the way you write with character and personality. Keep that up! Congratulations, Sara, you've earned an A in the course."

So I am impressive and have character and personality? I'll take it! Along with that lovely A.

(I think I was super hyper and random when I wrote this)

The 4th of July

We are one nation, under God. I thank God for the men and women who have sacrificed their time, fought to defend, and lost their lives for this great nation. I pray for all those who are still fighting, and still dying for their country. I pray for their families who miss them and worry about them. And I thank God for the founders who started this God fearing nation so many decades ago. For those who declared their independence of tyranny and fear, to create a great country that is a beacon on a hill to other countries all around the world. Thank you to those brave people. And thank you God that I live in such a country.