--This is day 7 in "The 7 Last Days of Summer"--
I. On Your Marks...
School starts tomorrow. (I know that classes don't start until Tuesday, but school starts tomorrow)
That means that this, this day right now, this moment right now, this is the end of summer.
I've had several people come up to me today and ask, "Are you ready for school?" My normal reply has been, "It's here, so I don't really have a choice."
Don't get me wrong, school is fun.
I enjoy my classes (usually), I enjoy my teachers (usually), I enjoy talking to people (usually), and I enjoy attending school (usually). But school is hard.
I have to laugh when people say that school is preparing you for the world. Who are we kidding? School has always been harder than just working.
II. Get Set....
School is really not so bad once you get into it. You do, however, have quite a few things not to look forward to. Here's a short, incomplete list of what I am not looking forward to.
I'm not looking forward to forgetting how to sleep in.
I'm not looking forward to forgetting what a day of relaxation feels like. (Don't you dare say, "What about the weekend?")
I'm not looking forward to forgetting how much I love naps. (I take that back, I'll never forget my naps.)
I'm not looking forward to being tired, constantly tired.
I'm not looking forward to waking up every morning at 4am, just so I can work a few hours before school.
I'm not looking forward to listening to annoying people perpetuate their annoying beliefs.
I'm not looking forward to feeling like the class will never finish, the day will never finish, the week will never finish, the semester will never finish, the year will never finish, and graduation will never come.
I'm not looking forward to being starving. (I live in a perpetual state of hunger for some reason during the school year)
But I am looking forward to school. It means that after tomorrow, I'll only go through this feeling 2 more times. It means that I'm another year closer to being able to work full-time. It means I'm growing up. (and we all know how much that excites me)
However,
I do need just one more big, deep breath, before I go under.
I also need one more moment to myself, before they're all gone.
I want a few more hours of free brain time, before it starts constantly thinking about assignments, hours, people, rules, books, and homework.
But it's too late.
All my time is gone.
I don't have any more time for breaths, moments, or brain space.
School is here.
III. Go.....
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
How I celebrated the end of summer
--This is day 6 in "The 7 Last Days of Summer"--
I slept in - with my super-wonderful smelling sheets.
I talked with Dad - over breakfast, and over many topics. It was nice.
I set up the converter box with Philip - crazy directions, and a crazy conversation.
RuthAnn and I printed directions - which actually ended up being a lot harder than it sounds.
RuthAnn and I drove fast - which is probably the coolest thing in the planet.
RuthAnn and I ate lunch in about 3 minutes - literally.
RuthAnn and I spent all afternoon looking at beautiful things that we can't have - you would have thought that that would be depressing, but it wasn't.
RuthAnn and I managed to read our directions backwards - which gives you a great sense of power.
I took a nap - a short, sweet, and deeply wonderful one.
We ate dinner - steak and mashed potatoes.
We discussed - it wasn't an argument. It was, however, one of the strangest conversations I've ever had.
Philip and I made Rice Krispie treats - which involved an enjoyable trip to the store.
Philip and I ate our Rice Krispie treats with Frezzee Squezzee's while watching "Rebecca".
Dad, Philip, and I discussed "Rebecca" - a highly wonderful film.
I blogged - which is always enjoyable. At least for me.
I'm going to go to sleep - which is the greatest thing that anyone can do to celebrate a great day. Or a great summer.
I slept in - with my super-wonderful smelling sheets.
I talked with Dad - over breakfast, and over many topics. It was nice.
I set up the converter box with Philip - crazy directions, and a crazy conversation.
RuthAnn and I printed directions - which actually ended up being a lot harder than it sounds.
RuthAnn and I drove fast - which is probably the coolest thing in the planet.
RuthAnn and I ate lunch in about 3 minutes - literally.
RuthAnn and I spent all afternoon looking at beautiful things that we can't have - you would have thought that that would be depressing, but it wasn't.
RuthAnn and I managed to read our directions backwards - which gives you a great sense of power.
I took a nap - a short, sweet, and deeply wonderful one.
We ate dinner - steak and mashed potatoes.
We discussed - it wasn't an argument. It was, however, one of the strangest conversations I've ever had.
Philip and I made Rice Krispie treats - which involved an enjoyable trip to the store.
Philip and I ate our Rice Krispie treats with Frezzee Squezzee's while watching "Rebecca".
Dad, Philip, and I discussed "Rebecca" - a highly wonderful film.
I blogged - which is always enjoyable. At least for me.
I'm going to go to sleep - which is the greatest thing that anyone can do to celebrate a great day. Or a great summer.
Explanations
--This is day 5 in "The 7 Last Days of Summer"--
I'm in the process of training someone at work.
I thought that training would be a pretty easy thing to do. All you have to do is explain and show what you do to this new person, right?
Well in this person's case, the answer is a no.
We were in a really big time crunch today. The other two ladies and I had multiple things to do, and every single thing had to be finished today.
This was of course the day that they chose me to train this lady.
I was told she had the basic skills, which she did not.
I was told that she understood the process, which she did not.
I was told that she was aware of how much we needed to get done today, which she did not.
I was told that all I was doing was showing her how I single-handedly do Apparel clearance. In reality, I was showing her how to survive in retail.
It was a horrible day.
I have never minded explaining myself. I do have a reason for absolutely everything that I have ever said, loved, thought, or hated. I can explain to you why I'm thinking what I'm thinking, I would, however, suggest that you take a deep breath before I begin.
I'm saying all this to say that I would give her the instructions, I would give her what others do, I would tell and show her what I do, I would explain how my way has worked faster for me. And she would just stand there blankly staring at the sweater that she wanted to buy. Here I was, offering great explanations, tips, helps, that she will need when she starts, and all my work was for naught. I was itching to just be left alone, so I could fly through what I needed to get through, I knew where it was, I knew how to do it, I knew what it was, and yet all I did today was explain. Everything. Over and over again.
Long story short:
I learned her life story. And I am deathly serious about the life part. I know everything from her homemade sandwiches, to her daughters flat iron experiences.
She was shocked by how much we did all day.
We completed everything with mere minutes to spare.
And today was my last day of normal hours.
Summer is over.
I'm in the process of training someone at work.
I thought that training would be a pretty easy thing to do. All you have to do is explain and show what you do to this new person, right?
Well in this person's case, the answer is a no.
We were in a really big time crunch today. The other two ladies and I had multiple things to do, and every single thing had to be finished today.
This was of course the day that they chose me to train this lady.
I was told she had the basic skills, which she did not.
I was told that she understood the process, which she did not.
I was told that she was aware of how much we needed to get done today, which she did not.
I was told that all I was doing was showing her how I single-handedly do Apparel clearance. In reality, I was showing her how to survive in retail.
It was a horrible day.
I have never minded explaining myself. I do have a reason for absolutely everything that I have ever said, loved, thought, or hated. I can explain to you why I'm thinking what I'm thinking, I would, however, suggest that you take a deep breath before I begin.
I'm saying all this to say that I would give her the instructions, I would give her what others do, I would tell and show her what I do, I would explain how my way has worked faster for me. And she would just stand there blankly staring at the sweater that she wanted to buy. Here I was, offering great explanations, tips, helps, that she will need when she starts, and all my work was for naught. I was itching to just be left alone, so I could fly through what I needed to get through, I knew where it was, I knew how to do it, I knew what it was, and yet all I did today was explain. Everything. Over and over again.
Long story short:
I learned her life story. And I am deathly serious about the life part. I know everything from her homemade sandwiches, to her daughters flat iron experiences.
She was shocked by how much we did all day.
We completed everything with mere minutes to spare.
And today was my last day of normal hours.
Summer is over.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sweet, sweet organization
--This is day 4 of "The 7 Last Days of Summer"--
I love organizing things.
I love the fact that I have my own room. I love that I can organize anything I want, in any way I want, so I know how to find everything quickly. I love the fact that I can re-organize any of my old systems if I want to try something new. I love the fact that I can organize.
If you are not organized, then I do not understand you. It's as simple as that.
I am constantly confused how people can live, read, eat, breathe in un-organized spaces. How can they concentrate knowing they didn't put their clothes away?
How can they study knowing that they could clean that pile up in just a few minutes?
How can they walk into a room, look down and not see the ground?
How can they step on something, not know what it was, and move on?
How can they breathe in a room that can't?
No matter how organized you are, after a while things tend to get un-organized.
That is where all the fun comes in. I try to re-organize everything at least once a year. Now, I'm a student so I tend to run on school years rather than real years. So, I try to re-work everything before I start school. And today, I finished.
There's something about a really clean room. Everything in my room is currently perfect, (if for some reason you change that, you will die) and I mean perfect.
The books are in their perfect order, and ready to accept their future friends from the upcoming book sale.
The drawers are all perfectly neat with nothing crowding anything else, and everything laying comfortably.
The school books/papers/folders/pens/pencils are all organized by class and ready for use in the backpack.
The tucker-tote has been completely emptied and refilled.
The green thing has also been emptied and re-worked.
The shoes have all been placed in their perfect cubbies.
The beaters have all been rolled into place.
The clothes have all been carefully re-hung to their correct space.
And I am happy. Really, truly happy.
And I am content. Really, truly content.
Next week: Dusting and Vacuuming on the same day! Life can't possibly get better.
I love organizing things.
I love the fact that I have my own room. I love that I can organize anything I want, in any way I want, so I know how to find everything quickly. I love the fact that I can re-organize any of my old systems if I want to try something new. I love the fact that I can organize.
If you are not organized, then I do not understand you. It's as simple as that.
I am constantly confused how people can live, read, eat, breathe in un-organized spaces. How can they concentrate knowing they didn't put their clothes away?
How can they study knowing that they could clean that pile up in just a few minutes?
How can they walk into a room, look down and not see the ground?
How can they step on something, not know what it was, and move on?
How can they breathe in a room that can't?
No matter how organized you are, after a while things tend to get un-organized.
That is where all the fun comes in. I try to re-organize everything at least once a year. Now, I'm a student so I tend to run on school years rather than real years. So, I try to re-work everything before I start school. And today, I finished.
There's something about a really clean room. Everything in my room is currently perfect, (if for some reason you change that, you will die) and I mean perfect.
The books are in their perfect order, and ready to accept their future friends from the upcoming book sale.
The drawers are all perfectly neat with nothing crowding anything else, and everything laying comfortably.
The school books/papers/folders/pens/pencils are all organized by class and ready for use in the backpack.
The tucker-tote has been completely emptied and refilled.
The green thing has also been emptied and re-worked.
The shoes have all been placed in their perfect cubbies.
The beaters have all been rolled into place.
The clothes have all been carefully re-hung to their correct space.
And I am happy. Really, truly happy.
And I am content. Really, truly content.
Next week: Dusting and Vacuuming on the same day! Life can't possibly get better.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The cost of education these days
--This is day 3 in the "7 Last Days of Summer"--
I received my school books today. I'm one of those people who wants them in their hand when they walk into their first class. I despise the people who take all semester to get their books.
And the grand total of this semesters books? With normal (not express) shipping and handling?
$546.03
They do realize that that's more than half my car's total cost right there, right?
They do realize that that's more than two week's salary, right?
They do realize that that's a little less than my car's total insurance payment for a year, right?
They do realize that some of us have expensive addictions that we have to feed such as books, movies, and food buying, right?
They do realize that some of us try to have lives, right?
And the weirdest thing is that even though I hated spending that much money on them, I smile every time I pass them.
After all, they are books.
I received my school books today. I'm one of those people who wants them in their hand when they walk into their first class. I despise the people who take all semester to get their books.
And the grand total of this semesters books? With normal (not express) shipping and handling?
$546.03
They do realize that that's more than half my car's total cost right there, right?
They do realize that that's more than two week's salary, right?
They do realize that that's a little less than my car's total insurance payment for a year, right?
They do realize that some of us have expensive addictions that we have to feed such as books, movies, and food buying, right?
They do realize that some of us try to have lives, right?
And the weirdest thing is that even though I hated spending that much money on them, I smile every time I pass them.
After all, they are books.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I love/hate Politics
--This is day 2 of "The 7 Last Days of Summer"--
Just in time for the DNC. I had already written this, but had never posted.
Two true stories. I swear. It's all true. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. You can probably figure out where my voice got heavily sarcastic. I thought about mentioning for you every time it happened, but then where would the fun be? If you can't figure it out on your own, rest assured that you must not know me at all.
Their names were changed to protect their idiocy.
"Joanna, you like politics. Who are you going to vote for? Obama or McCain?"
"Seriously Jack, you want to argue this?"
"Yeah, I really do. Come on. Who, and why? And I want to know the why, I'm a political science major, so I understand politics."
"I don't know yet. I honestly don't know. How about you?"
"Oh, Obama. Definitely Obama. I really think he can...what's the word?...
"Change?"
"..Oh yeah, that's the word. He's the change we need."
"Which of his specific policies do you like Jack?"
"Um..well obviously...all of them."
"That must be nice to find a candidate you can completely support. But specifically, what great change is he going to make?"
"I think the war."
"What is he going to change in the war?"
"He's going to end it."
"Wow! He has the power to end war. Cool. How's he going to do that?"
"Well, we leave and everything goes back to normal."
"Well, that doesn't sound like it will take too long, what should he do with the other 3 years and 11 months of his presidency?"
"......well another good thing would be......health care....universal health care. Why don't we have it?"
"Universal health care, huh. What type of universal health care do you fall under?"
"The Universal kind."
"Thank you, Jack. Who do we give it to?"
"That's easy. Everyone."
"That's funny that you think that Jack, because it's no secret to anyone that you hate the Mexicans that work for us. You know that would mean they would get health care too?"
"Well. They're illegal. We shouldn't give it to illegal people."
"That's not very universal of you. And how are you going to tell the illegals from the citizens?"
"Drivers licenses. Anyone without one can't get health care."
"What about children, what about people who never get their drivers licenses? What about people whose driving licenses get revoked?"
"Alright, all children can have it."
"Even illegal children?"
"Yes, even illegal children. And anyone who doesn't have their license can get a special card."
"A card?"
"Yeah, something easy to print up."
"Don't you think that if it was easy to print up than anyone could print it and you'd still be giving health care to illegal aliens?"
"Well, that's okay. That's good. That'll make them work for their health care."
"Their universal, free health care?"
"Yes."
"Jack, I really have to go."
"I would be very interested to know what your family discusses at the dinner table, Joanna."
"It does get pretty interesting sometimes. Is it Exercise 2 that's due today?"
"So, tell me, what did you guys talk about last night."
"Last night....last night....We talked about Fall Festival, Macaroni and cheese, and Hillary Clinton."
"HILLARY CLINTON? What were you talking about her for? She's EEEEVVVVIIILLLL."
"Really? I always found her rather fascinating."
"But, she's EEEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLL."
"Why, Mark, tell me why she's evil?"
"She just is. You know that. Everybody knows that. She's EEEEEVVVVVVIIIIILLLL."
"I'm sick and tired of people automatically hating her. Everyone time I ask someone why they hate her I never, ever get a real reason. What is so evil about Hillary?"
"She's Evil."
"That is not a real reason."
Other classmate: "Yeah, Mark. It's really not."
"Well, she has evil policies."
"Alright, what are her evil policies."
"All of them."
"What an intelligent answer, I'm sure no one has ever answered that question with such intelligence before. Thank you for making that clear to me, Mark. Thank you.
What specific policies?"
"Alright, fine. If elected Hillary will make abortion......she will make abortion LEGAL."
-stunned silence-
"Mark, abortion is legal."
"No it's not."
Other classmate: "Yeah Mark, it is."
"It can't be legal. Bush didn't make it legal. He wouldn't have made it legal."
"You're right. Bush didn't make it legal. But your precious Bush has been in office for 8 years and he hasn't made it illegal."
"Well maybe he doesn't know it's legal."
-even longer stunned silence-
"You put all of your faith in a man, who you're not even sure if he knows whether or not abortion is legal? And you want to condemn Hillary on the outside chance that she might make abortion legal? Remind me to never, ever, ever, ever listen to your opinion on anything else, ever again."
"You're only going to vote for Hillary cause you're a feminist."
"I'm not going to vote for Hillary."
"Please. All feminists love Hillary."
"I don't love Hillary, and I really don't want to know what you think a feminist is."
"A feminist is someone...."
"Stop. Remember? No opinions, ever."
"You're such a feminist."
"I'm not feeling insulted."
"You should be. Feminists are..."
"Shh. Class is starting."
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the future leaders of our country, churches and businesses. I give you the voters for this next election. I give you America.
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe in it."
-George Carlin
Just in time for the DNC. I had already written this, but had never posted.
Two true stories. I swear. It's all true. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. You can probably figure out where my voice got heavily sarcastic. I thought about mentioning for you every time it happened, but then where would the fun be? If you can't figure it out on your own, rest assured that you must not know me at all.
Their names were changed to protect their idiocy.
"Joanna, you like politics. Who are you going to vote for? Obama or McCain?"
"Seriously Jack, you want to argue this?"
"Yeah, I really do. Come on. Who, and why? And I want to know the why, I'm a political science major, so I understand politics."
"I don't know yet. I honestly don't know. How about you?"
"Oh, Obama. Definitely Obama. I really think he can...what's the word?...
"Change?"
"..Oh yeah, that's the word. He's the change we need."
"Which of his specific policies do you like Jack?"
"Um..well obviously...all of them."
"That must be nice to find a candidate you can completely support. But specifically, what great change is he going to make?"
"I think the war."
"What is he going to change in the war?"
"He's going to end it."
"Wow! He has the power to end war. Cool. How's he going to do that?"
"Well, we leave and everything goes back to normal."
"Well, that doesn't sound like it will take too long, what should he do with the other 3 years and 11 months of his presidency?"
"......well another good thing would be......health care....universal health care. Why don't we have it?"
"Universal health care, huh. What type of universal health care do you fall under?"
"The Universal kind."
"Thank you, Jack. Who do we give it to?"
"That's easy. Everyone."
"That's funny that you think that Jack, because it's no secret to anyone that you hate the Mexicans that work for us. You know that would mean they would get health care too?"
"Well. They're illegal. We shouldn't give it to illegal people."
"That's not very universal of you. And how are you going to tell the illegals from the citizens?"
"Drivers licenses. Anyone without one can't get health care."
"What about children, what about people who never get their drivers licenses? What about people whose driving licenses get revoked?"
"Alright, all children can have it."
"Even illegal children?"
"Yes, even illegal children. And anyone who doesn't have their license can get a special card."
"A card?"
"Yeah, something easy to print up."
"Don't you think that if it was easy to print up than anyone could print it and you'd still be giving health care to illegal aliens?"
"Well, that's okay. That's good. That'll make them work for their health care."
"Their universal, free health care?"
"Yes."
"Jack, I really have to go."
"I would be very interested to know what your family discusses at the dinner table, Joanna."
"It does get pretty interesting sometimes. Is it Exercise 2 that's due today?"
"So, tell me, what did you guys talk about last night."
"Last night....last night....We talked about Fall Festival, Macaroni and cheese, and Hillary Clinton."
"HILLARY CLINTON? What were you talking about her for? She's EEEEVVVVIIILLLL."
"Really? I always found her rather fascinating."
"But, she's EEEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLL."
"Why, Mark, tell me why she's evil?"
"She just is. You know that. Everybody knows that. She's EEEEEVVVVVVIIIIILLLL."
"I'm sick and tired of people automatically hating her. Everyone time I ask someone why they hate her I never, ever get a real reason. What is so evil about Hillary?"
"She's Evil."
"That is not a real reason."
Other classmate: "Yeah, Mark. It's really not."
"Well, she has evil policies."
"Alright, what are her evil policies."
"All of them."
"What an intelligent answer, I'm sure no one has ever answered that question with such intelligence before. Thank you for making that clear to me, Mark. Thank you.
What specific policies?"
"Alright, fine. If elected Hillary will make abortion......she will make abortion LEGAL."
-stunned silence-
"Mark, abortion is legal."
"No it's not."
Other classmate: "Yeah Mark, it is."
"It can't be legal. Bush didn't make it legal. He wouldn't have made it legal."
"You're right. Bush didn't make it legal. But your precious Bush has been in office for 8 years and he hasn't made it illegal."
"Well maybe he doesn't know it's legal."
-even longer stunned silence-
"You put all of your faith in a man, who you're not even sure if he knows whether or not abortion is legal? And you want to condemn Hillary on the outside chance that she might make abortion legal? Remind me to never, ever, ever, ever listen to your opinion on anything else, ever again."
"You're only going to vote for Hillary cause you're a feminist."
"I'm not going to vote for Hillary."
"Please. All feminists love Hillary."
"I don't love Hillary, and I really don't want to know what you think a feminist is."
"A feminist is someone...."
"Stop. Remember? No opinions, ever."
"You're such a feminist."
"I'm not feeling insulted."
"You should be. Feminists are..."
"Shh. Class is starting."
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the future leaders of our country, churches and businesses. I give you the voters for this next election. I give you America.
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe in it."
-George Carlin
Monday, August 25, 2008
I don't recommend these. At least not for you.
--This is day 1 of the "7 Last Days of Summer"--
Readers beware: This is long.
Recommendations are tough things. I never know how I feel about them.
The art of recommending something is, well, just that, it's an art.
Part 1
When you go to recommend something, you need 3 things first:
1. An extensive list of possible recommendations.
2. A 3-5 minute conversation in which you say certain things and watch their reactions.
3. An quick, cursory understanding of their current situation.
If you have those 3 things, you may start the recommendation process. Your first recommendation is crucial. Even if you have the 3 things, you still need to be cautious on the first recommendation. I usually try to let people recommend something for me first.
Example: (We're going to use movies for our examples today. You'll see why later on. Books, music, art and internet sites can also be applied.)
Me (speaking): Yes, you're right. I do love movies. What's your favorite movie?
Me (thinking): The fact that you didn't answer that immediately with, "There's no such thing as my favorite movie. I love all movies" means that my choices are being cut down to about 800 choices. (800 is taking into account the list of 3 things that you have already acquired)
Them: Well... I would definitely have to say.. You know I really love.... I'm not like normal people who just watch certain types of movies....It would probably be....I think maybe....Okay, my favorite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean.
Me (thinking): Oh brother. That cuts down my list to about 150 choices.
Me (saying): Yeah, Johnny Depp is good in that.
Them: Yeah, he's funny, but I really like Orlando Bloom.
Me (thinking): 50 choices.
Me (saying): So did you like the second and third ones too?
Them: Absolutely.
Me (thinking): 25 choices.
Me (saying): Really? I'm not that huge of a fan. But tell me, what's another one of your favorite movies?
Them: Well, maybe... Okay, don't tell anyone this, because it's not really checkable, but I really love Sahara.
Me (thinking): 10.
Me (saying): Wow, you gotta to be careful with that one. I'll definitely keep that between us. Any other bad movies that you're into?
Me (thinking): The fact that I didn't instantly puke when you talked about Sahara is another thing I would like to keep between us.
Them: Well, my greatest movie of all time is...I mean this is the one that I could watch all day....And it's sad, and good, and funny, and it's got great action...And this one, it's rated....well it's rated R....but it's really not bad....I promise....it's just kind of violent.....anyway, it would have to be....(insert one of the 3 options here)
Me (thinking): 2.
Me (saying): You know what you would probably like? You would probably like the National Treasure movies.
Them: Oh my word! Those are some of my favorite movies. I can't believe I didn't mention them. They are so great, do you like them?
Me (saying): I like the fact that you like them.
Me (thinking): because it means I was right again.
See how essential the process is?
Follow these steps and you can be recommending with the best of them.
Part 2
It's been a good summer in many ways, but one of it's ways is the way that I was able to accomplish many things I have wanted to accomplish for a while.
I'm talking about two movies, and two shows.
The first movie was perfect. I've seen it three times since I first saw it, and every time I finish it, I want to see it again. The first time I saw it, I wasn't aware that I was so completely pulled into it. When it was done, I couldn't believe that that much time had passed. I thought about it for days afterwards. I read reviews, I wikipedia'd, I googled imaged. And I wanted to talk about it, I really wanted to talk about it. Because, it was perfect.
The second movie was perfect. I had heard little about this movie, but once I finished it I wanted to tell everyone I knew to watch it. The movie was beautiful. Truly, truly beautiful. There were scenes that you couldn't tear your eyes away from, there were moments that made you want to weep, and there were beautiful, beautiful, beautiful shots. When the last shot came, it was so beautiful that I caught my breath. It's so hard to convey emotion in that way, and he did it perfectly. When the credits began, I rewound it just so I could see that image again. I wanted to be sure I wasn't dreaming it, but I wasn't. It was even more powerful the second time.
The first show was perfect. I was introduced to it late in the summer by good friends, and after the first 12 minutes, I was hooked. It was so incredibly wonderful that I didn't want to finish it. And then, to my great enjoyment, I realized that it was a show that could be watched again, and again. Also, I now know what I need for my new ringtone. It's one of the greatest tragedy's in the world that it got pulled. But, we do thank all of the cast/writers/producers/narrator for the genius that they shared with us.
The second show was perfect. I've been working on it for a while, and I finished it today. I cannot describe to you how much I love this show. I plan on buying all the seasons, and re-watching them all again. There's a reason it was lauded for it's ensemble cast, there was never one moment in which the acting was poor. And if you don't believe me, it's clearly only because you've never seen this show. Every single character was perfect, every single episode was moving, every single song was intoxicating, every single time. I could spend hours lauding the show's leading character, but that wouldn't be fair to all the amazing support that the other cast members offered. There were many times in this show when I realized that my mouth was open, that I was tightly clutching my pillow, that I felt like crying, that I was so angry, that I was aching, and I was left wondering how long I had been that way. I want to go on, but I can't. What more can be said about perfection?
Part 3
I can count on less than one hand the people that I will recommend anything to, and chances are, that you aren't one of them. If you are, rest assured, you've already heard about these four things.
If I felt like I could recommend these blindly to you, they would each have their own separate post. But I couldn't do that. I wanted to post about them, but in a way that you would be okay with me not supplying their names.
These are some of the most wonderful movies and TV shows that I have ever seen.
But I don't recommend them. At least not for you.
Readers beware: This is long.
Recommendations are tough things. I never know how I feel about them.
The art of recommending something is, well, just that, it's an art.
Part 1
When you go to recommend something, you need 3 things first:
1. An extensive list of possible recommendations.
2. A 3-5 minute conversation in which you say certain things and watch their reactions.
3. An quick, cursory understanding of their current situation.
If you have those 3 things, you may start the recommendation process. Your first recommendation is crucial. Even if you have the 3 things, you still need to be cautious on the first recommendation. I usually try to let people recommend something for me first.
Example: (We're going to use movies for our examples today. You'll see why later on. Books, music, art and internet sites can also be applied.)
Me (speaking): Yes, you're right. I do love movies. What's your favorite movie?
Me (thinking): The fact that you didn't answer that immediately with, "There's no such thing as my favorite movie. I love all movies" means that my choices are being cut down to about 800 choices. (800 is taking into account the list of 3 things that you have already acquired)
Them: Well... I would definitely have to say.. You know I really love.... I'm not like normal people who just watch certain types of movies....It would probably be....I think maybe....Okay, my favorite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean.
Me (thinking): Oh brother. That cuts down my list to about 150 choices.
Me (saying): Yeah, Johnny Depp is good in that.
Them: Yeah, he's funny, but I really like Orlando Bloom.
Me (thinking): 50 choices.
Me (saying): So did you like the second and third ones too?
Them: Absolutely.
Me (thinking): 25 choices.
Me (saying): Really? I'm not that huge of a fan. But tell me, what's another one of your favorite movies?
Them: Well, maybe... Okay, don't tell anyone this, because it's not really checkable, but I really love Sahara.
Me (thinking): 10.
Me (saying): Wow, you gotta to be careful with that one. I'll definitely keep that between us. Any other bad movies that you're into?
Me (thinking): The fact that I didn't instantly puke when you talked about Sahara is another thing I would like to keep between us.
Them: Well, my greatest movie of all time is...I mean this is the one that I could watch all day....And it's sad, and good, and funny, and it's got great action...And this one, it's rated....well it's rated R....but it's really not bad....I promise....it's just kind of violent.....anyway, it would have to be....(insert one of the 3 options here)
Me (thinking): 2.
Me (saying): You know what you would probably like? You would probably like the National Treasure movies.
Them: Oh my word! Those are some of my favorite movies. I can't believe I didn't mention them. They are so great, do you like them?
Me (saying): I like the fact that you like them.
Me (thinking): because it means I was right again.
See how essential the process is?
Follow these steps and you can be recommending with the best of them.
Part 2
It's been a good summer in many ways, but one of it's ways is the way that I was able to accomplish many things I have wanted to accomplish for a while.
I'm talking about two movies, and two shows.
The first movie was perfect. I've seen it three times since I first saw it, and every time I finish it, I want to see it again. The first time I saw it, I wasn't aware that I was so completely pulled into it. When it was done, I couldn't believe that that much time had passed. I thought about it for days afterwards. I read reviews, I wikipedia'd, I googled imaged. And I wanted to talk about it, I really wanted to talk about it. Because, it was perfect.
The second movie was perfect. I had heard little about this movie, but once I finished it I wanted to tell everyone I knew to watch it. The movie was beautiful. Truly, truly beautiful. There were scenes that you couldn't tear your eyes away from, there were moments that made you want to weep, and there were beautiful, beautiful, beautiful shots. When the last shot came, it was so beautiful that I caught my breath. It's so hard to convey emotion in that way, and he did it perfectly. When the credits began, I rewound it just so I could see that image again. I wanted to be sure I wasn't dreaming it, but I wasn't. It was even more powerful the second time.
The first show was perfect. I was introduced to it late in the summer by good friends, and after the first 12 minutes, I was hooked. It was so incredibly wonderful that I didn't want to finish it. And then, to my great enjoyment, I realized that it was a show that could be watched again, and again. Also, I now know what I need for my new ringtone. It's one of the greatest tragedy's in the world that it got pulled. But, we do thank all of the cast/writers/producers/narrator for the genius that they shared with us.
The second show was perfect. I've been working on it for a while, and I finished it today. I cannot describe to you how much I love this show. I plan on buying all the seasons, and re-watching them all again. There's a reason it was lauded for it's ensemble cast, there was never one moment in which the acting was poor. And if you don't believe me, it's clearly only because you've never seen this show. Every single character was perfect, every single episode was moving, every single song was intoxicating, every single time. I could spend hours lauding the show's leading character, but that wouldn't be fair to all the amazing support that the other cast members offered. There were many times in this show when I realized that my mouth was open, that I was tightly clutching my pillow, that I felt like crying, that I was so angry, that I was aching, and I was left wondering how long I had been that way. I want to go on, but I can't. What more can be said about perfection?
Part 3
I can count on less than one hand the people that I will recommend anything to, and chances are, that you aren't one of them. If you are, rest assured, you've already heard about these four things.
If I felt like I could recommend these blindly to you, they would each have their own separate post. But I couldn't do that. I wanted to post about them, but in a way that you would be okay with me not supplying their names.
These are some of the most wonderful movies and TV shows that I have ever seen.
But I don't recommend them. At least not for you.
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