How I Know Technology Is Evil

According to my computer, my CD drive has been completely nonexistent for several weeks now. Which is/has been very very VERY frustrating, but I can deal. Until today.

Because today, my computer decided that my speakers (which are built in to the computer) also do not exist. As in, iTunes/YouTube/Hulu/Pandora/Windows Media Player/any program on the entire computer that requires any sort of sound will not even run because I "do not have any sound output devices installed." Excuse me, what?

AND, my computer had been hibernating, and when I tried to wake it back up it popped up with a message telling me that it had failed to shut down properly, but it had in fact been shut down. Where did this come from? I know beyond doubt that it was hibernating, not shut down. Because I had made a point of not shutting it down. Because I had stuff open that I didn't want to close, so as not to lose data.

AND! The battery, which had been full, was randomly at less than 50% when I turned it on. No idea how this happened. It was plugged in until maybe an hour before this occurrence, and it's never drained battery while hibernating or, apparently, shut down before.

Maybe there are computer gnomes eating my computer. I don't know. But if I have to take my computer somewhere to get it fixed, then I will barely have enough computer access via the family computer to get all of my thesis work done, let alone do anything about Chelsey or blogging or author sites or any such thing.

This makes me sad.

This proves that technology sucks/is evil and plotting to take over the world. (Which is, after all, one of the Natural Laws of the Universe. Rule 5/5B, actually. Just ask CH or KD.)

I'm gonna go, so I can get my homework done and then attempt to defrag my computer, because that's really all I know to do...(thanks, CH, for the suggestion). But be warned: your technology IS out to get you. You're not paranoid. You're not schizophrenic. You're not paranoid schizophrenic. (*cough*creative writing today anyone?*cough*AF*cough*) It really is out to get you.

TTFN,
Bex

True Word Nerdiness

You might be a word nerd if...

...you can spend two hours talking to teachers about creative writing and come away thinking "oh my goodness, that was awesome." In this vein, talking to Dr. Livingston today was really, really fantastic. Just one of many wonderful things he had to say about writing: "We all know that we don't know what we're doing." Every writer has his or her own method, and we all think our way is the best way. "There is no magic bullet. No writer worth his or her salt will tell you that, because we all know that we don't know what we're doing." Ahhh I love talking to other writers. Especially when I can do that (which is productive and fun) instead of going to school (which may on rare occasions be productive, but is rarely fun except for the non-academic parts).

...you're really interested in the stuff that you're writing an academic paper about. I know a lot of people just slog through research papers and say "I can't wait to get to the interesting part where we actually experiment and do stuff," but I think all this screenwriting stuff is really interesting. Like, really interesting.

...you can be deeply interested in your topic and still not want to write it, but mostly because you would rather be writing your novel. I have missed Chelsey so much. If I don't go back to her story soon, she's going to die. Kind of like Tinkerbell with the whole believing-in-fairies thing.

...you literally choke trying not to laugh when someone asks if you've read Harry Potter, and have a similar (though less adamant) reaction when asked about Lord of the Rings. Maybe that just makes me a Potter nerd (which I am, and proud of it) or a fantasy dork (again, I will admit this shamelessly), but I think it counts.

...you completely forgot about your precal homework because you got sidetracked from the (still not-quite-finished) research paper assignment by adding NaNoWriMo, book, and wordplay flair to your board on Facebook.

About that still not-quite-finished research paper assignment. And the forgotten precal homework. Yeah, I should go do that. As much as I enjoy making lists, I even more enjoy not failing my classes. And even better than that is getting a good night's sleep. Until tomorrow, internetfolks...

Love,
Bex

Is It a Good Idea to Microwave This?

Chances are, NO, it is not a good idea to microwave that. But it sure is fun to watch.

My friend MGC told me at lunch today about a wonderful series of videos on YouTube entitled "Is It a Good Idea to Microwave This?" So, of course, when I got home, I had to look it up. Basically it's these two (three?) guys from Emerson College putting whatever they can find in a microwave and finding out what happens. I am very, very amused. You can get to the "show" homepage by clicking here. Prepare to be entertained. Thank you, M, for encouraging me to watch these. I have just finished watching Experiment #15: Is it a good idea to microwave marshmallow peeps? This is quite fun.

On a completely unrelated note, I might possibly maybe have a mentor for my senior thesis project soon. A professional screenwriter! I'm quite excited by this possibility.

That's quite enough insight into my personal life for today; now a brief snippet of the inside of my head. I have the song "Anthem of the Angels" by Breaking Benjamin bouncing around and reverberating in my skull. I am not sure why. This song will not go away. It's not a bad song - in fact, it's quite a good song, that you might want to go listen to - but anything gets annoying when stuck in your head for long enough.

"Days go on forever, but I have not left your side. We will chase the dark together; if you go, then so will I..."

I just got sidetracked watching people light things on fire with microwaves. Seriously, go check out that show. And I'll go do my chemistry homework. Or just watch more of this microwave stuff. Laters,
Bex

Wheeee

As my sleep deficit (yay AP Pysch terms) increases, I have reached the next level of the tiredness scale. It can be described as the stage of "Wheeee. I am tired. So tired, in fact, that everything you do seems ridiculously hilarious, even though it is stupid. Stupid is a funny word. Tee hee. Tee hee. Tee hee sounds funny too...oh look I'm just gonna talk a lot and not shut up! Yay for being tired! For some reason this sentence amuses me greatly. Haha, that sounded strangely formal. Oh look, I still haven't shut up. I should learn to shut up. Hey - irony! I mean, what? >_> *laughs hysterically*"

The above description is basically a snapshot of me after the APUSH test and before the AP Lang Hour-And-A-Half-Of-Doom. Right now, I'm actually calmer. A little bit. Of course, I'm doing math homework (er...well, I'm blogging, but I have my math book open on my lap, does that count?), so that significantly drains some of the TiredBounceHyperBounceWheeee, but besides that.

You know what would be really good right now? Chocolate. Dark chocolate. Like one of those Hershey's Dark Chocolate Valentine Hearts candies? Mmm.

See, that was random. This is why I should not be left alone with the internet when I'm sleep-deprived to the state of Wheeee.

I'm gonna go now. Maybe I'll even be able to finish this math before my brain goes Ka-BOOM. You know, Ka-BOOM. Like this:

Ahh, how I love the Madagascar Penguins... "Yes, Rico. Ka-BOOM."

Okay, I should really get off the computer now before I make all of your heads go Ka-BOOM too. Random side note that I just thought of: I am still looking for a good music video song. If you have any ideas, you should share them with me. :) Really going now. Promise.

Laters,
Bex

Will You Still Call Me Superman?

I don't have time for a long post tonight, because I'm attempting to finish this RIDICULOUS 200-question chemistry review and then study for an APUSH test that I really need to do well on. But I do have time for a brief message.

Public Service Announcement! If you haven't heard, chemistry is evil. At least, this review packet is. 200 questions of math and chemistry and ickyness. Even the people who love chemistry hate this review packet. It is evil. And it just might eat me.

Since I've got chemistry on the brain tonight (and because I like this song), I have a chemistry-related song for you all. Well, ish... Krypton is an element. It counts. The song is "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down. And while I'm not a huge fan of most of their stuff, I really like this particular song:

"You called me strong, you called me weak, but still your secrets I will keep. You took for granted all the times I never let you down. [skip a bit] If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman? If I'm alive and well will you be there holding my hand? I'll keep you by my side with my superhuman might, kryptonite..."

I should warn you, the video's a little weird. Okay, a LOT weird. But the song is quite good. And now, dear internetfolks, I must go finish my homework. Much love,
Bex

Lazy Saturday

It's always nice to have a day where you don't really have to do anything. And for a little while, I had one - I slept for around 11 hours last night (and after a week of maybe-five-hours-a-night-of-sleep, I needed it), had a weird dream involving singing prom dates and vampires, and then proceeded to do lots of nothing much at all. I've started a new book and I'm enjoying it immensely (you'll hear about it when I'm done, promise), and I've watched an episode and a half or so of LOST.

Too bad lazy Saturdays don't last. Because then I remembered that I had lost of homework that needed doing. Such as several APEX assignments, two sets of key terms, and six journal entry thingies - all for APUSH. Not to mention the 200-question chemistry review. At least I've started that.

So I'll have to do some of that tonight. I've already done the APEX, if that counts for anything... But hopefully I'll have time to read some more of this book, too, because it's quite good. Also, I've spent most of today trying to come up with a song that I can make a music video for. I've got my Flip camera, the run of my house/yard/neighborhood, and moi. All I lack is a song that does not require additional actors. Ideas? Anyone? Yeah, me either. I'll come up with something. Eventually. I hope.

AND, right now I have a Taylor Swift song stuck in my head. Not quite sure why, but I do. It's alright; I like this song a lot, I just...can't figure out why it's in my head. (Incidentally, I've also got the tune of the prom date song from my weird dream in my head, but that's totally beside the point.) Anyway, if you're a Taylor fan, you should go listen to Tim McGraw now.

"And I'm back for the first time since then, I'm standing on your street, and there's a letter left on your doorstep and the first thing that you'll read...is when you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song. Someday you'll turn your radio on, I hope it takes you back to that place. When you think happiness, I hope you think that little black dress, think of my head on your chest, and my old faded blue jeans. When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of me..."

Mkay, so that quote was a little long, my apologies. But it's stuck in my head! And it's a good song, so you should listen to it.

Love to you all,

Bex

Fallen

Sooo I finished another book today. :)

It's called FALLEN, it's by Lauren Kate, and it was very very good. It's about a girl named Luce who has been seeing shadows that no one else can see since she was very young. Recently, she was with her crush Trevor at a party, and something happened that resulted in Trevor's death. Luce doesn't know any more about it than anyone else, but she was with him, so she has been implicated in the murder.

So now, Luce is at Sword & Cross, a reform school in Savannah, Georgia where she's meeting all sorts of strange people - including Daniel Grigori. Daniel is gorgeous, and Luce is convinced that she knows him from somewhere, but he seems strangely determined to hate her. And then there's Cam, who is sweet and friendly and totally into Luce. She's not sure how to juggle her feelings for Daniel and Cam's feelings for  her, but she is determined to find out why she's so sure she knows Daniel.

I don't think I can say any more than that without giving out spoilers. I wish I'd been able to read the final published copy; I read an ARC that I got back in November, and there are a lot of typos and a couple of sections where there are sentences missing. I kind of felt like that detracted from it, but it was a wonderful story and if you get the chance to read it (the actual published version) you DEFINITELY should. It was so great. I adored it. The sequel, TORMENT, is due out sometime in September, and I will be very eager to read it. :) More info available on author Lauren Kate's website. And here's the pretty cover:

I definitely recommend FALLEN to anyone looking for a great paranormal romance. (I know, I read a lot of those. Get over it.) It was excellent. :)

Hasta luego, internetfolks!
~Bex