I saw Lord of the Rings today! That movie is freakin' long. Almost 3 1/2 hours! That's, like, how long it takes to drive back from camping at Joshua Tree! Speaking of which--DON'T GO CAMPING IN THE WINTER. Or at least, not unless you have a super-heavy-duty tent, and super-warm sleeping bags, and you know how to build a decent fire to keep you warm! Those are all things that we lacked on the trip. So, because it was so dark, and we didn't have a good fire to sit by, Cammy, Leah, Christina, Me, and the Porters all forced ourselves to go to sleep at 8 PM. Which doesn't really work, especially if you're used to going to bed around midnight or 1. However, looking back on the trip, it was actually pretty fun. It was just getting through the night that was the difficult part. THE SUN FELT LIKE IT WOULD NEVER COME UP! Ha ha.
Ok, I feel like I got a lot of CDs for Xmas, so now I will list them, since I feel like listing them. I hope you feel like reading the list.
REM: Reconstruction of the Fables
REM: Reckoning
Cold Mountain Soundtrack
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
Some random sampler
Bad Religion: Stranger than Fiction
Brendan Benson: Lapalco
The White Stripes single: Hardest Button to Button
Ok, maybe it wasn't that many CD's. But it felt like a lot. I'm planning to go buy more tomorrow--probably Queens of the Stone Age and Beck. We'll see.
I really recommend the Shins, if you're looking for a poppy indie band. They're quite good. Good lyrics AND music.
Random post: Adrien Grenier, the actor who hasn't really done anything since Drive Me Crazy with that Sabrina the Teenage Witch girl, is really hot. There was a cashier that looked kind of like him at Marshall's today. It reminded me of this fact.
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
I miss you Kaylan! If you're reading this.
Today I am happy. Among the many things to make me happy today, I got to go Xmas shopping with Cammy. Yay for Cammy being back! I mean, I love college friends--but sometimes (read: virtually always) it's nice to have a friend that has known you since you were in 1st grade and knows you inside-and-out.
"My love for you is like diahrrea (sp?). I just can't hold it in." --Hannah at the Xmas party confessing her love for me. Ok, maybe not exactly that, but one of the more memorable quotes from the party. Yay Hannah! It was so nice to see you!
And of course it was great to see Tony and Alex. And Corie. But I see Corie at school. So she doesn't count. He he. I think that's it for the people that read my blog.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. So you know what that means for the day AFTER tomorrow! Stuff! For me! Just what I always wanted!
Today I am happy. Among the many things to make me happy today, I got to go Xmas shopping with Cammy. Yay for Cammy being back! I mean, I love college friends--but sometimes (read: virtually always) it's nice to have a friend that has known you since you were in 1st grade and knows you inside-and-out.
"My love for you is like diahrrea (sp?). I just can't hold it in." --Hannah at the Xmas party confessing her love for me. Ok, maybe not exactly that, but one of the more memorable quotes from the party. Yay Hannah! It was so nice to see you!
And of course it was great to see Tony and Alex. And Corie. But I see Corie at school. So she doesn't count. He he. I think that's it for the people that read my blog.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. So you know what that means for the day AFTER tomorrow! Stuff! For me! Just what I always wanted!
Monday, December 22, 2003
Some random thoughts:
Had the Xmas party last night. It was nice! Everyone I hoped to see showed up, and even though I didn't really get to have an "in-depth" conversation with each person, it was still really nice to have everyone come by. Our haphazard caroling was fun. Poor Cammy--left early because she was still adjusting to the west-coast time change. But at least she came for some (most?) of it!
I saw Pieces of April today at the Academy. Yep, I know, if it's playing at that theater, that means it's old news. But I still hadn't seen it yet (Thanks, Davis). That movie is great. I mean it. It is definitely one of the best movies I have seen in a while. Better than Girl with a Pearl Earring, Last Samurai, at least a little better than Station Agent. So yes. If you see a movie this week, see Pieces of April before it leaves theaters completely. It's hilarious and poignant and all that blah blah blah.
One last thing: I'm reading Cold Mountain, because I figured I should actually read the book before I see the movie, especially since I'm pretty much the last person on the planet who hasn't read it yet. So I'm almost done with it...and I don't know if I still want to see the movie! Ha ha. Of course I'll still see the movie. It's got Jude Law and Jack White in it, who am I kidding? But the book is so...depressing! And violent! I mean, I know it's very poetically-written, but...in basically every other chapter someone gets killed! I'm so sick of it! Maybe I'm missing something. I think I am. Because the novel is basically a "modern-day classic" or something like that. Oh well. Maybe it'll all come together at the end.
Had the Xmas party last night. It was nice! Everyone I hoped to see showed up, and even though I didn't really get to have an "in-depth" conversation with each person, it was still really nice to have everyone come by. Our haphazard caroling was fun. Poor Cammy--left early because she was still adjusting to the west-coast time change. But at least she came for some (most?) of it!
I saw Pieces of April today at the Academy. Yep, I know, if it's playing at that theater, that means it's old news. But I still hadn't seen it yet (Thanks, Davis). That movie is great. I mean it. It is definitely one of the best movies I have seen in a while. Better than Girl with a Pearl Earring, Last Samurai, at least a little better than Station Agent. So yes. If you see a movie this week, see Pieces of April before it leaves theaters completely. It's hilarious and poignant and all that blah blah blah.
One last thing: I'm reading Cold Mountain, because I figured I should actually read the book before I see the movie, especially since I'm pretty much the last person on the planet who hasn't read it yet. So I'm almost done with it...and I don't know if I still want to see the movie! Ha ha. Of course I'll still see the movie. It's got Jude Law and Jack White in it, who am I kidding? But the book is so...depressing! And violent! I mean, I know it's very poetically-written, but...in basically every other chapter someone gets killed! I'm so sick of it! Maybe I'm missing something. I think I am. Because the novel is basically a "modern-day classic" or something like that. Oh well. Maybe it'll all come together at the end.
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Monday, December 15, 2003
Well, I'm home. And it feels pretty much like it did when I left. Which is good, I guess. My main regret is that I couldn't bring my laptop home (no space), because I didn't realize how much I love it compared to THIS FREAKING THING! Ha ha. I guess the internet would still be slow on my laptop, but at least the mouse would WORK, and the keyboard wouldn't be so old and clunky and nasty. But enough complaining. It's good to be home! I knew I missed Kim and Myra, but I don't think I knew how much until I walked in the door and saw them. I was so happy--Kimmy remembered me! She was soo excited to see me! She just followed me around for like an hour after I got home, sitting next to me whenever I sat down, and wanting me to pet her. And when I went upstairs, Myra slept on my bed just like old times, and she followed me around too. Awww! That's why people keep pets. That just made itself perfectly clear to me. Because they love you and remember you! I mean, sure family and friends sort of do that too, but...not quite in the same way!
Oh, and the other thing that makes me glad to be home--good independent movies! (Which my parents also happen to pay for). Yesterday, Dad, Leah and I saw Girl with a Pearl Earring. Really good. Every scene was so perfect and beautiful, and the story line was really subtle and interesting. I like that Scarlett Johannson girl. She picks good roles. And then today the whole family saw The Station Agent. Yes, I know it came out a long time ago, but it wasn't playing in Davis, and none of us had seen it yet, so we decided to go. It was really good too! That movie's harder to explain exactly why it was good, but it just was, ok? Just go see it sometime!
Hmm...any more news? Not really. Our VCR stopped working, so I convinced mom and dad to buy a VCR/DVD player--awesome! So now we can actually watch DVD's on our puny little TV. It's quite thrilling.
Ok, I'm getting fed up with this freaking keyboard. Hopefully I can see some actual people soon (hehe--other than my family, of course). Come to my party! It's at 7:30 this Saturday night!
Oh, and the other thing that makes me glad to be home--good independent movies! (Which my parents also happen to pay for). Yesterday, Dad, Leah and I saw Girl with a Pearl Earring. Really good. Every scene was so perfect and beautiful, and the story line was really subtle and interesting. I like that Scarlett Johannson girl. She picks good roles. And then today the whole family saw The Station Agent. Yes, I know it came out a long time ago, but it wasn't playing in Davis, and none of us had seen it yet, so we decided to go. It was really good too! That movie's harder to explain exactly why it was good, but it just was, ok? Just go see it sometime!
Hmm...any more news? Not really. Our VCR stopped working, so I convinced mom and dad to buy a VCR/DVD player--awesome! So now we can actually watch DVD's on our puny little TV. It's quite thrilling.
Ok, I'm getting fed up with this freaking keyboard. Hopefully I can see some actual people soon (hehe--other than my family, of course). Come to my party! It's at 7:30 this Saturday night!
Friday, December 12, 2003
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Oh yeah--I better get at least a B on my consciousness final--I think I almost gave myself a migraine studying for it! I studied for about 4 hours straight, and I was really stressed out. Luckily, I noticed that I was getting a headache before it was too late, and I took some pills. I can tell when I have one because I lose feeling in my tongue. Pretty weird. That was a close one.
Ok, so now that I have a break between finals (woo hoo! again--the hardest ones are done! Now my last one's on Friday), I must tell you about all of the turmoil that has happened in my very dorm. It's pretty thrilling, ya'll...
So, our building has a name now--It's no longer Infill Building 3-it's Miller. So as you can probably guess, everyone's like, "It's Miller time!" and making lots of jokes about our name. People were drawing beer cans on the floor's white board, and stuff of that nature. Well, apparently some very important people came through to look at the new buildings, and they saw the references to beer. So our awesome RA, Peter, who's usually pretty relaxed, got in trouble for not erasing the stuff. So he asked people not to write beer-related stuff on the board, but then people did anyway, and the important people came and saw it again. So now we have to ASK Peter before we write anything on the board. And I just realized that that probably doesn't sound very horrible to anyone reading this. But it's pretty annoying. Because it's like we're little kids again or something. And I'm not even that mad about it. But a LOT of people are. It's funny. Some anonymous person typed out a whole page about how we have the right to say what we want, and then taped it on the white board. And someone else printed out a sheet that said "Censored" and taped it over a some art on the wall in the lounge. It's good times.
Oh, and they made Kaylan and me take down our Christmas lights that we had wrapped around the bench outside the room. I don't even know why. That's the worst part. It makes me sad. But now I have them around my window.
Ok, sorry if that story was pointless. But I figured you were probably all dying to hear the latest news about 2nd floor at UC Davis!
3 days till I go home!!
So, our building has a name now--It's no longer Infill Building 3-it's Miller. So as you can probably guess, everyone's like, "It's Miller time!" and making lots of jokes about our name. People were drawing beer cans on the floor's white board, and stuff of that nature. Well, apparently some very important people came through to look at the new buildings, and they saw the references to beer. So our awesome RA, Peter, who's usually pretty relaxed, got in trouble for not erasing the stuff. So he asked people not to write beer-related stuff on the board, but then people did anyway, and the important people came and saw it again. So now we have to ASK Peter before we write anything on the board. And I just realized that that probably doesn't sound very horrible to anyone reading this. But it's pretty annoying. Because it's like we're little kids again or something. And I'm not even that mad about it. But a LOT of people are. It's funny. Some anonymous person typed out a whole page about how we have the right to say what we want, and then taped it on the white board. And someone else printed out a sheet that said "Censored" and taped it over a some art on the wall in the lounge. It's good times.
Oh, and they made Kaylan and me take down our Christmas lights that we had wrapped around the bench outside the room. I don't even know why. That's the worst part. It makes me sad. But now I have them around my window.
Ok, sorry if that story was pointless. But I figured you were probably all dying to hear the latest news about 2nd floor at UC Davis!
3 days till I go home!!
Sunday, December 07, 2003
We have 22-hour quiet hours until Saturday, December 13th. Which is when I'll be gone home. That's right. We are only allowed to be "loud" from 5-7 pm every day. So right now, I'm BLASTING Sublime, because I CAN! The silence is going to drive me CRAZY!!
ps-German final at 8 am tomorrow! Woo hoo! Wish me luck!
ps-German final at 8 am tomorrow! Woo hoo! Wish me luck!
Saturday, December 06, 2003
My mom sent me pictures of us in Napa Valley during Thanksgiving break. Most of the pictures look really bad (no offense, Mom!), but here are some of the better ones.
Me, Mom, and Leah sitting in one of the winery gardens we visited
Leah, looking rather creepy, giving my dad a head massage in the dorm
This picture cracks me up. It was the last shot on the roll, and Leah was about to make a weird face, but I took it before she was ready, so she ended up looking a little messed up in the head.
Yes, well, I just realized that many of you may look at this site and think "What a strange family Kate has." And you will be right. But they're pretty awesome, too.
Me, Mom, and Leah sitting in one of the winery gardens we visited
Leah, looking rather creepy, giving my dad a head massage in the dorm
This picture cracks me up. It was the last shot on the roll, and Leah was about to make a weird face, but I took it before she was ready, so she ended up looking a little messed up in the head.
Yes, well, I just realized that many of you may look at this site and think "What a strange family Kate has." And you will be right. But they're pretty awesome, too.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Guess what!? The White Stripes were nominated for best album of the year at the Grammys! (thanks, Billy!) I'm so excited, I might actually watch! I've never watched the Grammys before, because I never actually cared. But the White Stripes are nominated for more than one award, Coldplay's nominated, Fountains of Wayne, Queens of the Stone Age...too bad the awards aren't til February 8! That's like, 4 days before my birthday! Who wants to watch them when they're THAT far away?!
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
"I've been thinking a lot about how we are all improvising in life. We are confronted by the unexpected - things we see, people we talk to, even thoughts that enter our heads, and we have to react in the spur of the moment. It seems to me that many of us spend a lot of time fighting against our spontaneous reactions to what we experience in favor of what we think is appropriate. In some cases the thoughts that come into our head when we experience something seem strange and out of place and we are encourages to ignore these ideas and "focus". It is a bit frightening to realize that you don't have much control over what thoughts pop into your head.
I'm interested in what happens when you give up that control. Free association can feel very disorganized and odd, but it is a way to experience parts of yourself you don't know that much about. It seems that this is what is at the root of a good brainstorm - talking without knowing what you are going to say next. It is having faith in yourself beyond what you can mentally grasp at that moment. You get to experience first hand what your mind consists of. Try it. Look at something and start talking. Say what the thing reminds you of and let that thought trigger another. The way you connect ideas is different from anyone else.
I think its what freedom feels like." --zefrank
I think zefrank has an interesting idea. Because it is true--a lot of people try to hold back their initial thoughts and reactions because they're afraid of what people might think, or ashamed or shocked that they reacted that way themselves; but it's totally natural. Why hold back? It might be the way to living a longer, more satisfying life. Or it might be the quickest route for everyone hating your guts....
I'm interested in what happens when you give up that control. Free association can feel very disorganized and odd, but it is a way to experience parts of yourself you don't know that much about. It seems that this is what is at the root of a good brainstorm - talking without knowing what you are going to say next. It is having faith in yourself beyond what you can mentally grasp at that moment. You get to experience first hand what your mind consists of. Try it. Look at something and start talking. Say what the thing reminds you of and let that thought trigger another. The way you connect ideas is different from anyone else.
I think its what freedom feels like." --zefrank
I think zefrank has an interesting idea. Because it is true--a lot of people try to hold back their initial thoughts and reactions because they're afraid of what people might think, or ashamed or shocked that they reacted that way themselves; but it's totally natural. Why hold back? It might be the way to living a longer, more satisfying life. Or it might be the quickest route for everyone hating your guts....
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Man. I should so NOT be blogging right now. I have my last non-final German test the day after tomorrow--and it covers all of this grammar that I don't really understand (ie passive voice, subjunctive I and II, you get the idea...), so I need to review a lot tomorrow. The other thing I have to do is my 10-pg term paper on animal consciousness. I really have no idea what I'm talking about; I mean, I think the information is really interesting, but I have no idea how to organize all of the information into a coherent essay. We'll see how that turns out.
In OTHER news...We decorated for Christmas today! Kaylan and I went to Rite-Aid and bought Christmas lights and weird plastic green and red sparkly string stuff. We put the string stuff around the door, and put the lights around the bench that is right outside our room. It makes the whole floor much more festive! Colleen and Katherine have mistletoe hanging in their doorway...
And I played Cranium for about 2 hours tonight, rather than do my essay or study. It was me and Dylan vs. Jessica and Katherine vs. Colleen and Tommy. And me and Dylan won! It was good times. Took me back to previous Cranium-playing memories...
12 days till I go home! I can't wait!! Presents! Food! Family! Friends!!!
In OTHER news...We decorated for Christmas today! Kaylan and I went to Rite-Aid and bought Christmas lights and weird plastic green and red sparkly string stuff. We put the string stuff around the door, and put the lights around the bench that is right outside our room. It makes the whole floor much more festive! Colleen and Katherine have mistletoe hanging in their doorway...
And I played Cranium for about 2 hours tonight, rather than do my essay or study. It was me and Dylan vs. Jessica and Katherine vs. Colleen and Tommy. And me and Dylan won! It was good times. Took me back to previous Cranium-playing memories...
12 days till I go home! I can't wait!! Presents! Food! Family! Friends!!!
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