08/27/05, 7:59pm.
You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss...
What makes a film the best compared to all other films?

Obviously, AFI seems to think that they can make a magic list, and sure, people vote. But really. I like Casablanca and I like Citizen Kane. I own them both, and I'm currently watching the former. But how do you compare one film to another? It's simpler to compare one Hitchcock film to another, or even films of the same genre. The Ring versus Invasion of the Body Snatchers. But what do you do with films of entirely different genres, years, styles? Casablanca versus Star Wars? Citizen Kane versus Finding Nemo? What about a whole slew of films, like if you had a list of all the above, plus Apollo 13, Schindler's List, Psycho, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sideways, The American President. Dramas carry more weight than comedies or horror. The older the film, the more we revere it.

Being a "cinema studies" major, I suppose I should know the answer to this. But I don't. I can spot a quality film, and I know films that I like, regardless of quality. But I can't figure how someone can dub one film better than the other with absolute end-all, be-all. I like Casablanca more than Citizen Kane. It's a romance, a little shorter, has humor as well as tragedy. Beautiful. But is it a better film? I don't know.

"I've often speculated why you don't return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator's wife? I like to think you killed a man. It's the Romantic in me" - Capt. Renault

Current Music: As Time Goes By - Sam (from Casablanca)

08/26/05, 1:20pm.
With the blink of an eye, I finally see the light...
I'm currently in Spring Hill. After one week, I've decided to take a weekend sabatical, and with my mother in Illinois, I have a whole house to myself. Ah, I love being alone. I forgot how much I dislike having roommates. Oh well.

So I'm here. It's currently sunny. No rain, which is good. Katrina is still way South, though. As she moves up the gulf, I'll probably be hit. Which is why I'm doing my laundry now. (Silver lining?)

My checkbook is balanced! It has been a lot recently, since I decided to take out the $21 that it's been off-balance since last December. I still don't know where it was supposed to go. I've checked the numbers and I can't find anything in my statements that hasn't cleared. But anyway, now that my books are balanced, I feel the need to go spend money to celebrate. Sick, eh?

In other slightly odd and depressing news, my Amazon.com wish list is much shorter than it used to be. I used to have 45+ DVDs that I wanted. It's down to 20, and some of them are kinda "eh" and most of them are cheap, so it's not like that's holding me back. I might need to go on a mass "add DVDs to my wish list" spree. Fun, eh?

Also, look for some interesting changes to come to this site. Actually, I can't really say that they will be interesting, because I don't know what I'm going to be doing yet. Either way, I'm hoping to get something done. I'm bored with this scheme. Same goes for my LiveJournal (since they are the same scheme). Must futz.

Also, any suggestions for a new graphic design program? I know Photoshop is kinda the staple, but it's expensive. I'm currently using Macromedia Fireworks, which is good, but most of the stuff I create there isn't. I need a change of scene, and possibly a change of program. Also, a muse would be helpful. Anyone? Muse?

And I'm spent. Later, alligators.

Current Music: Amazing - Aerosmith

08/24/05, 7:20pm.
I don't want to be lonely no more, I don't want to have to pay for this...
*heart* *heart* *heart*

:-D :-D :-D

*heart* *heart* *heart*

I'm in SUCH a good mood!!!!!!!

I don't even mind that the worst Rob Thomas song EVER is stuck in my head!!!

That's how GOOD the mood is!!!!

AND I'm using a ton of CAPS and EXCLAIMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

*breathe*

Okay, so good day. I'll sum up.
- Slept in (I didn't have to go to class today because I know how to use Excel)
- Bought some new DVDs (there's something special about buying my first 2005 DVD. So NEW!)
- Bought bath mat, 8 5x7 picture frames, and jersey pillowcases
- Saw Red Eye (yum! Cillian Murphy can stalk me anyday)
- Got lunch from Panera (delicious, as usual)
- Watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off (which makes even a good day supremely better)
- Got dinner from Chipotle (which I'm eating currently)

AND!!! I had my first film class, and I'm in love. I'm in love with film. I'm in love with movies, and cinema, and actors, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, anyone who has anything to do with the production or distribution of movies. I do not love Baz Lurhman (and neither does my professor!!!) but that's another story.

Okay, getting away from the caps and the rambling and the exclaimation points; I'm just really happy that while I was sitting in my class, The Art of Cinema taught by Jesse Wolfe, that I was just so excited and involved and it felt so right. Why is this so amazingly good? Because it's my major. And I love my major. I love the classes I have to take for my major. I love the jobs that I can potentially get because of my major. I feel like I finally have the right idea. I am finally in the right place, doing the right thing. I'm sure it won't always be this great or this perfect, and I won't always be this happy or this certain...but for right now, I'm at peace with my decision.

And that deserves a celebration. Can I get a "woo-woo"?

Current Music: Lonely No More - Rob Thomas

08/22/05, 9:23pm.
So take your cat and leave my sweater, because we have nothing more to weather...
'Bout damn time, party of one?

Yes, I'm updating! Last week was orientation. By today, I have my ID card, my books (not to mention my classes) and I've actually gotten back into the swing of school. I've been to Disney twice, plus Downtown Disney once. Been shopping a few times, for various stuff. I have three new pairs of shoes...a pair of KangaROOs (the 80's shoe with the zipper *cough*condom*cough* pouch), a pair of black Reef flip flops, and light blue/white Adidas slides.

WB shows are awful. I'm watching Summerland(?), and Lori Laughlin can't act, and she looks dumb as a blonde. The chick who played Francie on Alias still bothers me, and the Aaron Carter-looking kid is trying to hard to be something he's not for a girl who likes him too much for what he is. If that made sense.

Raise your hand if you really want to see Brothers Grimm! Just making sure.

I don't know if I want lip gloss that works like colligen. Maybe it's just me.

Lastly. Don Johnson on a WB show makes me certain that the world is coming to a crashing hault. Mr. Miami Vice...Mr. Nash Bridges...is now starring with a pimply teenager in a bad "Doogie Howser" meets "The Practice". Poor man.

Alright, I'll give props to the WB for being able to always find hot older men to play the father figures. Ow ow!

Current Music: You'll Think of Me - Keith Urban

08/16/05, 9:09pm.
I won't hesitate no more, it cannot wait I'm sure...
I'd ask if I could start this day over again...but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't get any better, and I'd rather not relive it, thank-you-very-much.

Started out with a 2+ hours drive to Orlando. Not bad. Though I knew that orientation would suck and I was quite negative. Checked in to the orientation. So far, so good. Nothing rotten had happened, we weren't lost, we weren't late, we chilled. Mama and I were even having a few laughs. It was nice that we didn't really have to sit through much of the long, boring lecture, because I opted to do that online a month ago. It sucked then, but I was in the comfort of my own (sister's) basement with a kitty on my lap and a Diet Pepsi in my hand.

We were split up (of course), so Mama went her way, and I was divided up among colleges, and then even the College of Arts and Sciences was split and I ended up with Communication/Journalism/Film to walk to advising. We were further split, and I ended up with 2 other people...as the only film majors. Nifty, we got our own smaller advising session. Which was less advising and more a lady telling us 5 possible classes we should take for our first semester. She guaranteed that we'd have no trouble getting into them. HA!

After that, we went to "lunch" where I found Mama and we ate...I don't even know what it was. There were maccaroni noodles and beef, possibly in a cheese-ish sauce. However, it tasted like ass. Mom said it reminded her of tuna casserole. [...] I don't think that anything with beef should taste like tuna. The Lays potato chips were good though. And they had bottles of Diet Coke. However...it was Diet Coke made with Splenda. Which does indeed taste more like regular Coke. HOWEVER...I don't like the taste of regular Coke, so why would I want my Diet Coke to taste more like it?

After the lunch fiasco, we had a bunch of time, so we went to browse the bookstore, and I got a big UCF sweatshirt. I really like it. Yay! We sat around a little more, waiting for the registration to officially begin, which didn't happen until 45 minutes later, and after we had been again split up into groups by College and taken to computer labs. Then the shit really hit the fan. Advising lady lied, and of the 5 classes she said would definitely be open...only 2 were...and they were available at the EXACT SAME TIME. 6pm to 8:45pm on Wednesdays...and they were both the same. Dammit. Okay, well I'm minoring in Art History, so I signed up for History of Art I. Two classes. Okay...

So I had two classes. And I still don't know what gen eds I need to fulfill, because UCF hasn't finished assessing my IU transcripts. So I stood in a hella long line to see if maybe someone could point me in the right direction...give me some sort of idea what level French I could take, or if my math counted. But no, other than chatting with a few cool girls in line, it was a major bust. So I sat back down at a computer. Two classes. Uh...well, I know I definitely haven't fulfilled my Math credit. So I check the suggested classes. Computer Science or Stats for Excel. Yuck and yuck. So I check the availability and times. Openings, a plus, but only fits in my two class schedule if I take it at 9am. I don't function before 9:30, but I'm hoping they might be easy? So I opt for Stats. Three classes.

So what else? Hmm...maybe I'll try to take History of Art II, even though I figured that it would need the History of Art I as a prerequesite. But alas! No! So I go to add it as a class. And it's at the Rosen College of Hospitality and ... something. Which is off campus, but close. However, I have a class ending 10 minutes before that one is due to start. BUGGER.

Still at three classes, plus a forth dud. Uh...I need a class from a list called 1.B.1, so when I find that in the book, I pick one that sounds mildly intesting and somewhat simple (American History, 1877 to Present) and sign up. That's sort of 5 classes. Kinda. Maybe? I'll fix it later.

I was hoping to taking French some more. And maybe even an introductory Spanish class. But oh no. Unlike Indiana...where I rarely came up against the "prerequisite" obstical of UCF and where I could jump around and take Hollywood II before Hollywood I and I could take a 300-level communications class, at the same time as a 300-level French class when I was neither a French nor a Communications major...UCF makes it nearly impossible to take classes outside of your major. Each department offers maybe 3 classes to non-majors. Uh...what? Dammit. So long, Theatre. Au revoir, French. Maybe in my next life, Comparative Lit. At least I have a minor, so I don't have to give up on Art History too. Could you imagine? I would absolutely die if I could only have one thing and one thing only. I actually miss IU.

So after a chaotic and rather sucky day, Mama suggests taking a look at my apartment. So we find it, go in and ask if we can see a model, since I never had. The girl said the apartment was ready and she could get my keys. Score! I won't have to wait in a hectic line tomorrow. So we wait around and get a cute little "welcome" folder and wait for the keys. Finally, something today was going right. [...] Then we get to the apartment. The door is a little old looking, and Mama had said that the complex looked new. These were not new doors. Oh well, can't judge on appearances. Open the door. Dimly lit, unimpressive dining area, kitchen and living area. Dimly lit...70's style. Reminded me of a couple of my sisters' old apartments. Brown carpeting, but not bad furniture in the living room. Time to find my room. It was a tiny apartment, compared to mine in Indiana. So we open my bedroom door. Eww. Same ugly brown carpet, and that ugly medium brown wood furniture. Not the pretty, dark oak-ish color, or the really pale beige. No...that inbetween that was popular around 1993 that is less wood, more laminate. There's an ugly yellow oversized desk lamp in my closet without a lampshade on it. So the furniture's tacky...I can live with that. But it's dirty too. The carpet hasn't been vaccuumed, much less cleaned since the last tenant. There's dust along the kickboard, visible dust. Dust on the vents and fans too. We went to rearrange furniture and found an empty Coke C2 bottle, from who knows how long ago, and a deflatted beach ball under the bed. The room had defintely not been cleaned. Excellent. I'm in an ugly, dirty, old apartment. My mom is super pissed because the model had been so nice and she kept raving about how awesome it was. And then we see that. She told the office that it hadn't been cleaned and they "filled out a work order" but I doubt it will be cleaned at all by tomorrow for move in. So Mama's bringing a vaccuum and Clorox bleach wipes and we will make the most of it. The thing that bugs me the most...it's a lot more expensive than my Indiana apartment was. And that one was bigger, newer, nicer, cleaner, brighter, and had better furniture. Oh, and utilities were included in rent. I have a sneaky suspicion that they are not at this place. Definitely NOT worth $490 a month.

So double bummer. Bad orientation, bad apartment. We stopped for a good Chili's dinner on the way home, though. And we packed up the cars with most everything. The rest will go in tomorrow morning, and we'll again trek the 2 hours to Orlando. Bugger it all to hell. The semi-good news is that I've already decided not to sleep there tomorrow night. I'll come back to Spring Hill. Then on Thursday, we'll go to Disney, and maybe after that, I'll go back to my apartment. Then Monday starts classes. Classes that I currently am disappointed with. Maybe during the drop/add sweep of the first week classes, I can get some better ones.

Disappointed. Bitter. Tired. I rest with my kitty as we drift off to a hopefully restful night of sleep. I haven't slept well at all lately. And I've been clenching my teeth and causing an aching jaw and headache...for the first time in over 3 months. Bugger.

This is our fate, I'm yours...

Current Music: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

08/13/05, 10:38pm.
Maybe I'm not up for being a victim of love...
I purchased more music today from iTunes. Eek. But is it my fault that I am desperately in love with music? I adore my iTunes so very much, and most especially my "Purchased Music" list. Recently I've been adding more country, to round out my listening experience. Alabama, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, and Keith Urban have all contributed recently, though the latter three only gave a song or two. Alabama popped up with an entire album! I'm certainly getting to feel my roots down in the South. True, I'm not Southern in anyway, shape, or form, but many people down here are indeed born and bred south of the Mason-Dixie line.

Other than my music conquests, I have finished unpacking my Florida boxes (that have been infecting the garage and "guest bedroom/my room" here). Most of the junk will end up staying put at Mama's house, but there are some boxes that will journey with me to my apartment next week. Move-in day is next Wednesday (the 17th). My orientation is the 16th. It's all coming together. Before I know it, I'll be in classes (starting a week from Monday...the 22nd!). We are planning a Disney day for sometime next week, though. I'll be able to get my season pass. Not to mention that I'll be getting a new Florida driver's license. I didn't want to give up my IL residency, but saving $40,000 is more of a priority, so consessions had to be made.

Well, I'm going to see if my muse is nearby and attempt to pound out some pages. It will most likely be dribble, but it will get those creative juices flowing! Much love to all.

Current Music: Wreck of the Day - Anna Nalick

08/10/05, 10:05am.
I'm a whiskey-loving, cowboy-chasing hell of a time...
Fayanne and I made it safely to Florida, in about 18 and a half hours. Not too shabby, but we were definitely going a little crazy nar the end. Lots of laughs, though, so it was fun.

This morning, I realized I hadn't checked my email in a few days, so I did that. Mostly junk, but I feel better now.

We went shopping yesterday, and I got some new clothes. Yay! The new Gap jeans rock. Today we are doing more shopping. Of course. That's what Mama is good at. Oh well.

Current Music: Play Something Country - Brooks and Dunn

08/06/05, 11:50pm.
But I love you more than anything in the world, love your baby girl...
It's finally happening. I'm almost on my way to Florida. School and life is about to catch up with me...things I haven't really thought about in quite a while. I'm sure everything will be fine.

Last night was my last social hurrah of the summer, and it was really good. I started at Whitney's barbecue and thought it would be awkward...and it was a bit in the beginning, but I chatted it up enough to have a good time. I extend special thanks to Lauren Pais, Annah Feinberg and Daniel Reinglass, Jennie Ellman, Mike Irvine, and Amy Witt. The latter three I had met up with at the Corner Party (a party at the corner of Deerfield Road and Waukegan Road). It was excellent and I had some really conversations with Jennie and Mike.

Good times and good dreams to all.

Current Music: Baby Girl - Sugarland (2nd version remix)

08/03/05, 9:29pm.
Da da dah da dah dum...
Love and other four letter words.

Spawning from a conversation I had earlier with Jason...perhaps women are shooting themselves in the foot (feet?). A woman looking solely for action is either a) desperate, b) slutty, c) lying, or d) all of the above. We, society, other women, label these people, and mostly shun them. However, I'd wager a bet that deep-down perhaps they are more (c) than anything else. Perhaps they really want a more meaningful relationship, something significant and long-term. So does it pay off to lie that you want something frivolous and physical for one night of most-likely mediocre pleasure, or try to hunt for what you actually want?

I guess that's one of those age-old questions, like "which came first, the chicken or the egg?". It's a double-standard, I suppose...or perhaps more like getting caught between the bull's horns. One side = slut, the other side = no action. Well, damn.

Current Music: The Daily Show.

08/01/05, 6:42pm.
Maybe I'm not up for being a victim of love...
It's a brand-new month and one that brings a lot of changes. I have 4 more days of work before camp is over. And none-too-soon either. The way things are going, it would have been best if it ended last week.

I just woke up from a nap. I don't usually nap...not healthy, messes up sleep cycle, etc. But it was a long day. My plans for tonight include dying my hair and watching some of season four of Coupling. Possibly kicking it back with an alcoholic beverage or two. Those make things muuuuuch better.

Current Music: Wreck of the Day - Anna Nalick