Category: Junior Literary

hello, all. i may or may not have let the deadline creep up on me this week with my blog. i’ve been a bit stressed these past thirty or so weeks. so, this week, i give you an excerpt of a story i’m working on for intermediate short fiction class. it’s inspired by lorrie moore’s how, which is one of my favorite short stories. keep in mind that this story, much like its writer, is a work in progress 🙂

You will meet him at the video store. You’ll be renting a movie you’ve seen a thousand times, and he’ll be the clerk behind the desk. He will compliment your taste. That movie’s one of his favorites, too, and he’s never met anybody else who has seen it. It won an Oscar and is on every Top 100 Movies list, but you don’t tell him that. You will smile, and he will stare, captivated by finally finding someone who shares his interests. He will tell you more about the movie, how much he loves it, and you will agree, equally in wonder of him. If you squint and turn your head to just the right angle, he will almost look like a young De Niro. You will wonder where he has been all your life. He will tell you. He just moved to town and immediately took a job here, ecstatic to find a video store that hadn’t yet been shut down. You will tell him how you’ve been coming here for as long as you can remember, how it’s one of your favorite places in town. He will say that he hopes he’ll see you there again. He will. You’ll make sure of it. Just when you step out into the parking lot, you will hear him following you. He never got your name. You will tell him, and he will return the favor. He will tell you to have a good day, despite the fact that it is 9 p.m.

Spend the next few days thinking of him constantly. Homework, friends, even music will become obsolete. Your every waking moment will be spent dissecting the intentions behind each word he said, each snaggle-toothed grin he flashed. Remember the spark you felt when your hands touched. Ignore the fact that your hands only touched in a retail ritual. Your mother will ask you if there’s something wrong. Tell her no. How could anything be wrong when you’re in love? You will listen to Roberta Flack and dream of boys with dark circles around their eyes.

Thursday will swoop down to rescue you from your reverie. You will realize that you had missed him. That it has been a week since you met him. Since your life changed forever. You’ll wake up excited, knowing that you must return the movie today. That in doing so, you will see him. Shave beneath your arms. Put on extra mascara during Algebra and a spritz of your friend’s perfume during Biology. Daydream.

 

• 

The incident at the Oscars has roared up much controversy. More importantly, it has raised the question, how far is too far? Whether you think it was staged or not, I think it is important to discuss these two icons and their need for privacy and respect.

Privacy

This couple’s relationship has always been under the harsh judgmental eye of the public. I personally believe that the nature of their relationship should be kept to themselves, however it is their choice if they want to be open to the public. This reminds me of the incident with R&B artist August Aslina. That whole situation wasn’t our business. I think it was very unprofessional to talk about in a bragging way, or just to randomly drop that delicate piece of information in an interview. It simply wasn’t anyone’s business. 

I felt as though the Red Table Talk with Will afterwards was kind of forced. The public didn’t really give this family time to process this, and that’s unhealthy. As fans, or just observers it is important to set a sort of boundary to these situations. Their relationship should not be something that is debated on Tiktok or anywhere online. To restate my claim, IT ISN’T ANYONE’S BUSINESS. You can still see how much love they have for each other, that’s all that really matters, well for me anyway. It is important to remember that you don’t know the nature of their relationship, or what goes on behind closed doors.

Context

From what I could gather about the incident at the Oscars I could come to the conclusion that Chris Rock was most definitely in the wrong. The joke about Jada’s hair was uncalled for and as a black woman, very hurtful. And it simply was not funny, read the room Chris. As a man who recently filmed a documentary on the relationship between black women and hair, you should know better, be better. 

Jada has been very open about her alopecia. Alopecia causes hair loss from the scalp or anywhere on your body. There are many variations of this condition, and I’m not too informed on Jada’s state. She was also very open about her hair journey and how acting in Hollywood made her equate her value to her hair. I’ve learned so much from listening to her speak about this issue and I hate that she had to deal with that humiliation. She’s so beautiful and strong and I hope that this whole situation just rolled off her back.

My Opinion

The slap might’ve been deserved, but it could’ve been handled better. For one, I think it was very unprofessional to do it live on international TV. However what’s happened can not be changed. So, where do we go from here? I think we can learn a lot about respect and sensitivity from this incident. Learn from other’s mistakes.

Okay, so, I recently began a rewatch of the Avatar The Last Airbender and the Legend of Korra, and it has really reignited my love for the franchise. I go back and I revisit these worlds and I’m once again overcome with my appreciation for them. The creators of these series should be so incredibly proud of themselves, because they’ve made something that is so amazing. So, I wish to discuss my favorite things about the ATLA/LOK universe, because I just want to. 

DISCLAIMER: These are in no particular order, so it’s not technically a ranking. Also, SPOILER ALERT lol. Also on top of the also, excuse any misspellings, I tried to check as much as I could. 

1) Waterbending, anykind, anywhere.

Okay, so I know that I said this wasn’t in order of best to worst, but this item is at the top of the list for a reason. From the first episode of ATLA to the last episode of LOK, I have been in love with waterbending above all other elements. Firebending may be pretty, earthbending may be powerful, and airbending may be graceful, but waterbending is simply beautiful. The intricate, fluid movements that it uses, the sight of the actual water moving, the culture and design of the tribes, all the variants in technique and style; it’s all just so pleasing to look at. If bending ever suddenly and miraculously becomes reality and I am not made a water bender, I will wage another 100 year war. 

2) Clothing that aides in bending.

On a slightly smaller scale is the clothing that exists in the Avatar world. From the metalbending officers of Republic City’s uniform cables, to the plates warn by Kuvira’s soldiers, to the Air Nation’s flight suits, I love it all. The concept of clothing that helps someone with their bending, even something as simple as Katara’s old water pouches, is so so cool to me. I love the idea of all the ingenuity it could bring, and all the different designs it could produce. The concept of more clothing designed for benders fuels my imagination every day. 

 

3) Wan Shi Tong’s Spirit Library

When I tell you I would commit unspeakable crimes to be able to browse this library, I hope a government official isn’t listening, because I am not joking. I absolutely adore the idea of this place, with thousands of years of actually spiritually ordained knowledge, all under one roof. I can understand what the professor from the desert episode was thinking when he chose to stay there forever, and I can see why Jinora was so excited to find it. Granted, its guardian may be inherently evil, but come on, even he is awesome. A giant owl that can speak and guards thousands of years of books??? That’s just genius. Cliché genius, yes, but genius nonetheless. 

 

4) The Pets

I would kill a man to pet Pabu. There, I said it, and I will not take it back. I am just as in love with Bo Lin as the next person who likes animated boys, but I would happily shove him aside to get to that tiny red panda. Not to mention Naga, for whose hug I would go to war for. And Appa, which I would transcend reality to meet, and Momo, which I would defeat every villain Aang and Korra ever faced to hold. Please, if you do not find each and every one of these creatures (and any I didn’t mention) as absolutely adorable as I do, see a doctor. There’s something wrong with you. Oh, also, I would love a shirshu, and you can fight me, they’re cool. 

 

5) Sokka and Varrick

You cannot convince me that Varrick is not a reincarnation of Sokka. They have the EXACT same energy, like actually. When I first watched the series, I forgot the time loop completely and thought Varrick was a grown up Sokka. Regardless, both of their energies are so chaotically wholesome, and I love the chemistry they bring to their respective shows. Also, watching those two fall in love was nauseatingly wholesome. 

 

Alright, that’s all for this week. Stay tuned for the rest of the list next week! Until then! 

Sincerely, someone who may or may not have daydreamed multiple atla/lok storylines <3

 

This is going to be a relatively short blog, but I wanted to talk about something I had discovered recently. It’s a musical interpretation of the brain decaying due to dementia. Created by The Caretaker it is titled “Everywhere At The End Of Time”. If you want to listen to it yourself, I’ve linked it here:

https://youtu.be/wJWksPWDKOc

It is a very interesting experience. Though it is over six hours in length, if you find yourself with the time to listen to it I seriously recommend it. It may not be a perfect representation of each individual experience, but I believe, from what I’ve read on it, that it is a very accurate generalization of the experience. It is a very saddening thing that dementia exists in the first place, but I believe that being able to, to even such a small extent, experience and relate to those who suffer from it is a beneficial thing.

The idea of forgetting everything is terrifying. The idea of living a long life just to enter a state where it may as well have never happened to you, is even more excruciating. My heart goes out to those who suffer from, and know those who are suffering from, dementia. Even if the individual themselves forgets the life they lived, may it live on yet longer in the memories of others. 

I’ll see you again in due time. This was just me sharing something, though I believe I am going to do more research on dementia and, as a possible result, more blogs on the subject. Thank you for reading, and may you always remember the life you’ve led.

No matter how hard I think I absolutely cannot think of any ideas for this blog. So I have no other choice but to dedicate this to my beloved dog PJ. 

PJ was once a young, kind soul, but somewhere along the way he morphed into a treacherous beast. But deep down inside I know that he has the spirit of a sunny day that lives within his cold heart. The best way that I can describe him would be an oversized garden gnome with anger issues. He is so short, but so angry that it doesn’t make sense. Or maybe that’s why he’s so upset. Because he can probably fit inside of our mailbox? I would be kind of upset too. But despite him putting on such a mean front he was one true love. And that love is the lake that is in our neighborhood. If you ever want to see him with a smile on his face just tell him that he gets to go to the lake. And once he gets to his destination there is no getting him out of that water. He will spin and splash around in circles for hours on end if we don’t force him out. It is truly a joyful sight. Then once we manage to snatch him out of the lake water, he gets to play with a water hose to his hearts content. I don’t think he understands that we hose him down in order to clean him, but the less he knows the better. With that being said I love my dog PJ, and while he might rarely show it; I know he loves me too.

PJ for president whenever the next election is…

So, it’s undeniable, be it from the coat of yellow dust that is already appearing on every available outdoor surface to the blots of color that are continuously appearing around every corner: Spring has definitely arrived. And, despite what some of my previously published writing may have you believe, I am not the biggest fan of Spring, as a season or a concept. 

As a season, my problem with Spring is simple and lies in the daffodil colored dust of death that is coating cars and slathering sidewalks. As a long time allergy sufferer, I am bracing for the absolute worst. And, judging by the severe sneezing fit I got from a mere five minute maskless walk in the outdoors yesterday, I am well on my way to allergy anarchy. So, if you see me dorm ridden due to inability to breath or see, don’t worry because I missed History, it wasn’t voluntary, I assure you. 

As a concept, my problems with Spring spam a little more deeply. Frankly, Spring makes me feel panicky. ACT scores are rolling in, school years are wrapping up, graduation is marching forward (for my senior friends) with apathetic ominousness. It’s a time that makes me feel like there is a hummingbird in my chest fluttering me towards a thousand different directions to do a thousand different things. Maybe it’s because I’m not ready to say goodbye to my graduating friends or my first year of MSA itself, but regardless, there’s a stifled desperation behind all of my actions. 

So, if I suddenly seem more interested in spending time with you, or if I’m a little bit hectic, that would be why. I’m rushing to make as many memories as I can, and I’ll happily take anyone I can along for the journey. Just brace for a bit of chaos 🙂

Until next time! 

Sincerely, 

Someone who’s trying to enjoy Spring, despite the pollen and panic. 

hello! i’m back this week with some actual content! over spring break, i rekindled my adoration for the genre of romantic comedy, and i decided that i’d like to share a few more of my favorites with you! a while back, i wrote about three of my favorites, and here are 2 more spoiler-free chats about my favorite rom-coms : )

sabrina (1995)

this. movie. this cheesy, corny, mundane, beautiful movie. i saw this movie on netflix (which it was taken off of. i will be suing for emotional damages. well, that was a joke. for…legal reasons.) on a day when i didn’t have much to do and decided to give it a watch. it seemed like something that i would like–romance, good music, harrison ford. i won’t even lie, the main reason i watched this is because i saw that harrison ford starred in it. gotta be one of the best looking guys ever, and talented, too. and julia ormond is utterly electric. her performance alone makes this movie worth watching. i wasn’t expecting much from it, but what i found was a charming, comforting piece of media that became super close to my heart. since i discovered this movie in late december, i have watched it AT LEAST once a week. and i never get tired of it. not sure if that says more about my hopeless romanticism or the nature of the film, but either way–sabrina is something truly special.

sense and sensibility (1995)

i could talk about this movie for hours, but i will spare you all that babbling and just say that this movie means more to me than i can express. honestly, this is probably more of a romantic drama than comedy, but it’s so full of emotion and does certainly have its comedic moments. any excuse to talk about this film is good for me. funnily enough, i discovered it about a fortnight ago (this movie makes me speak in regency english. sorry), and i have become attached to it quickly. it was always one of my mom’s favorite movies, but i never got around to watching it, and now that i have, i completely understand why she loves it so much. i don’t want to spoil anything, but i can confidently say that this is the absolute best jane austen adaptation i have ever seen. this film is SO perfectly casted that i could honestly dedicate an entire post to the cast itself. we’ve got kate winslet, dame emma thompson, hugh grant, and alan rickman, just to name a few of the immense talents, and each one captures the spirit of their character masterfully. the writing is spectacular, thanks to the lovely jane austen, and the screenplay by lead actress, dame emma thompson. the skill and passion it must take to adopt a novel into film and play one of its main characters is unbelievable, and thompson’s talent is unmatched. like i said, i could fill hours with my thoughts on this movie and would happily do so, but for this week, i’ll spare you.

 

p.s. being the nerd that i am, i have indeed created playlists dedicated to these movies. i won’t link them here, but i’ll stick to my tradition of mini-playlists : )

sabrina (1995) mini-playlist:

history of us- indigo girls

how can i remember?- michael dees

if you go away- dusty springfield

la vie en rose- edith piaf

my funny valentine- frank sinatra

 

sense and sensibility (1995) mini-playlist:

love’s recovery- indigo girls

trouble me- 10,000 maniacs

the first time ever i saw your face- roberta flack

right on time- brandi carlile

songbird- fleetwood mac

I used to hear the term “Platonic Soulmate” and think ‘well that is a nice way to say best friend!’ I really didn’t understand the whole meaning of saying something like that. I always thought of it as just a term that people used to be cheesy, honestly. I didn’t understand it until the universe sent me the perfect friend at the perfect time.

As many of you who will read this blog may know, my roommate Emma and I are rarely ever seen apart. We talk like two elderly women who have known each other since elementary school back in the 60’s. For at least the first week or two of school at MSA people thought we either were related for friends for years, but we actually had met only a few months before school. Right here is the part where I tell the story like an elderly woman:

One day, before even turning in the applications for MSA, my mom had basically dragged me by the ear to Brookhaven to take a tour of the school. The story basically goes that I met Emma on the tour and then we decided to go out to eat together after. The weird part was that even though we had never spoken to each other before, we began talking like we had been friends for years.  Even my parents were shocked at that point (knowing how I usually am with strangers).  After a tour, lunch, and a (I think) around 2 hour conversation, we had basically agreed to be roommates. It was, as my mom likes to call it, “A God Wink”, because before that day, I had completely given up on wanting to go to MSA. (If I am honest, I was really just waiting for a sign that made me think going to MSA would be a good decision.)

Now, although I may seem to give off a cheesy, lovey demeanor, it’s actually really uncommon for me to tell my friends how much appreciate them. It seems like the closer I get to someone, the less I verbally confirm that I am grateful, so I wanted to take a chance on this blog to say thank you to my roommate, bestie, and platonic soulmate, Emma. (cringe <3 jk) Joking aside, I am the most grateful for Emma out of all of the people I have met at MSA, and I am convinced sometimes that we share a brain. Honestly, I probably would have left MSA the first week if it hadn’t have been for the immediate best friend that Emma was. 

So enough of the cringy, sappy, emotions, enjoy this picture of me and my soulmate lookin cool :