Well, that was fun!

Goodness, I hadn't realized how depressed/depressing my last post was...sorry...:)

I'm not sure how much better I've gotten since last I posted, but I have been more and more fully aware of my stupidity! *smiles cheerfully*

That...that's a good thing, right?

Anyways, serving me a good helping of humble pie was very good of God. Didn't taste very good, but I probably just need to get used to it! Bah, what's a bit of unpleasant meat every now and then? Makes ice cream taste a whole lot better, it does...

So, as far as the moving updates are concerned, our official leave date for WA (also known as WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH) is the 21st of January. Ah, Washington...Does everyone want to know how I feel about Washington? Of course! Here, I'll tell you...

The Ode to Washington

Once upon a time you see,
So very long ago,
There was a land of beauty
In which there was no snow.

O, this land was gorgeous
A second Eden in the flesh!
It never rained, never poured
The weather ALWAYS blessed!

Until, one day, it happened...
Inevitably bad
The skies transformed from rays to rain
Thus doomed, was the poor land

Hail and sleet and pouring rain
A veritable swamp
To where did such Utopia fly?
The sun was now quite damp!

The people left, the market died
They left, 'long with the sun.
With some disdaining, the few remaining
Renamed it, Washington

-Danielle

Thank you all for your encouragement as my family and I venture in the wet and wild world of Washington.

Smallness...

Currently I am feeling very small. Not merely small in physical stature, which I happen to actually be, but small in mind and heart and soul.

As far as mind, my intelligence is so much lower than so many people! My perseverance for learning in general is sorely lacking, and I cannot bear doing more-than-usually-difficult work. Also, I am fairly unteachable as far as "Don't-bother-me-I-can-learn-this-on-my-own" sort of thing...

Concerning heart, there is little to say but, "GROW GROW GROW!!!" My friends are so wonderful and compassionate that I feel low and vulgar on occasion.

My soul...Ah, the soul! So much growing for it to do! Never more than twice a week do I read my Bible, and quick blips of "prayer" before I shut off the light are the staples of my Christianity. I feel that my soul is small, small, small; and malnourished....

I am not complaining of my incompetence for practically everything, I just had the very stark realization that I am very, very low in the scheme of things.

And I am frightened. I am frightened for the people I am going to meet as I move to Washington; I am frightened for the potential damage and stupidity I could create there; I am frightened for all the people here who I have underappreciated and never loved as much as they deserve. My mind, heart, and soul are so shallow and unfinished that it feels overwhelming, and I am not sure what to do.

I have such a wonderful life! I am in nearly-perfect physical health, my family is wonderful, we are well-provided for, I have amazing friends, wonderful teachers and an excellent school. So then I look at the people around me who are suffering from health problems, who have endured incredible pain and who have grown incredibly through enduring pain. I see beauty, humility, joy and compassion, and a knowledge which far surpasses any found in your average A Beka textbooks.

What does it take to become as transparently lovely, in heart, soul and mind, as those who have endured the trials of life? I know we should not pray for trial, but what should we pray for? Can a good and easy life yield the same results? Were/are we all meant for this beauty?

Usquequaque...

...means "utterly", in Latin. It is a lovely word, and accurately describes my current mode of living. I am utterly thankful for being utterly happy, utterly sick, and utterly busy, and am utterly uttering these things to you. :D

I have spent the past week (in perfect physical health) moaning and groaning about pretty much everything and being melancholy. As of coming home from school yesterday, I found out that I was sick...

For some reason, I am utterly happy and thankful for life now!

And in Torrey we had the magnificent Thanksgiving devotional by Mr. Bartel, in which we discussed gratitude, seeing things for what they truly are (i.e., God's creation), and (I think) God's gift of life to us (initiation courtesty of Mr. Chesterton and his "Crazy Tale").

I wonder if part of being grateful for God's creation is enjoying it? As my teacher mentioned, we should certainly not idolize anything, but perhaps we end up idolizing something because we do not look long enough at it. Should we then look and enjoy and learn all the more?

There are so many amazing things to learn from God! I know that's a "Captain-Obvious" thing to say, but I haven't said or understood it nearly enough. Maybe seeing what's right under our noses, and realizing that they are important, is the first step towards seeing things properly at all.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

(Oh, and anyone who likes pretty, fluffy comics with Russian-named characters, they should read "The Phoenix Requiem", at http://requiem.seraph-inn.com/. It is happy. :)

Whee!!!

Yay!!! It is Friday, which means that "Vita est bona"!

I just wanted to share this lovely and amusing (to me) site with anyone who cares.

www.godtube.com

It is the "Christian equivalent" of YouTube.

I am an Asymmetrical Chipmunk

Oh yes.

This Thursday, I had the interesting and rather painful adventure of getting all four of my wisdom teeth removed. Fun fun fun! (At least the doctor who did it was named Bach; that sort of made up for something). One half of my face is significantly larger and more swollen than the other half; thus I am (or appear to be) an asymmetrical chipmunk. Currently I am surviving solely on vanilla pudding and applesauce.


I got much money towards Borders for my birthday, so I bought Howl's Moving Castle and Northanger Abbey to account for not being able to do anything in my convalescent state. Everyone needs to watch Howl's Moving Castle for the good of their souls.


Here is a random picture of me trying to eat a bird (in my non-chipmunkish state):

Finis.

I am fifteen going on sixteen...

As of today, anyways. :) Huzzah for the big 1-5. That's what everyone's been saying to me, along with their nostalgic memories of what it was like when THEY were fifteen. Even some of the fifteen-year-olds. Heh.

Along with this update, there's also more news:

We are moving.

To Washington. Warshington. Hah.

Aaah.

More random sentiments.


N-E-how...yeah. Mayhap I am a bit sad about this. Okay, a lot. Here's why:

Reasons for Sadness:
-Friends
-It's okay to be a wimp about the weather down here; IT'S NEVER COLD!!!
-Friends
-My school (we'd be leaving sometime around January...right in the middle of the school year)
-Friends
-Drama group
-Friends
-Moving...is dumb...I don't like it...
-Fri- okay you get the picture...

Yeah, so the list could go on for a good while. On the other hand:

Reasons for Joy:
-The prospect of making new friends
-Being close to most of my relatives on Dad's side; we see them about every other year.
-Buying a house up there is significantly cheaper than doing so down here. Thus, we could save up for college, which is really, really really really reallyreallyreallyreally *pant* really expensive.
-Being as it is that I would love to attend Biola, I would be back down here in about three years; with all my other friends who are hopefully also going to Biola.

Whee...

School

Is tiring, and I love it.

The End.

Commas, sunburns, and tadpoles.

And a new layout...that is still work-in-progress...

So, I am reading John Locke's Second Treatise of Government. Or at least I am supposed to be. I just don't have a whole lot of determination to read it, especially with his affinity for commas and sentences that resemble paragraphs.

And as for sunburns, I have turned the most marvelous shade of scarlet. But I guess it was for a good cause; yesterday at the beach was soooo much fun. My friends and I regressed at least ten years and had mud fights and buried each other in the sand. :D (However, safety cautions that people standing within 100 feet should whip out their sunglasses, because I'm pretty sure the UV rays from my face will either blind or really, really hurt your eyes.)

T.A.D.P.O.L.E. (The Art Dump Place of Lovely Entries), my new art site, is up and running as of today. When you feel the desire, or are just plain bored, I will now be posting random bits of art there.

And so, without much further adieu...

I bid you...

Adieu.

Does anyone feel...?

Like they need a break from life in general?

Or to learn again -and to dwell forever in the sweet moment of revelation- what life is actually about? (Even though you know that's not what is completely right or good for you?)

Does anyone feel as if their feet were somewhere besides solid ground, and their hearts were stuck on earth?

Or feel that they are viewing the world and life from a different perspective than everyone else? As if you were an outsider, and not a participant?

Because that's kind of how I feel right now.

In oddly eloquent words.


But then, you read something like...

"5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer. 17:5-10)

*sigh*...I don't like being superficial.

*rant* *rant* *rant* :/

No, I am not dead...

Behold! I live...

There is really no proper/good excuse for my extended absence from such worthy activities as blogging. I was simply lazy and whatnot.

So, as I have not posted in practically forever, I suppose I shall now. Starting with what in the world I've been doing (or, not been doing) this summer.

TOP FIVE ACTIVITIES
5. Chores (I have conquered many loads of laundry in the past few weeks)
4. Various Internet surfing adventures
3. Watching good movies (Lady in the Water, The Village, The Visitation, Spiderman 3 and Ratatouille :D)
2. Playing Phantom of the Opera music (on the piano) until my fingers (and the ears of all my family members) fall off.
1. Alternately reading Nancy Drew mysteries and Macbeth! :) :) :) (The height of my summer intellectual stimulation is astounding, no?)
(0. I suppose drawing, as well.)

FIVE HAPPY THINGS,
5. New Torrey books (that are huge)!
4. Complete and Unabridged works of Shakespeare for two dollars!
3. New Latin book (that is also huge)!
2. The general relief of not having schoolwork!
1. My relatives (who live in Washington State) visiting for an entire week next week!
(0. Spending the weekend at one of my bestitiest friend's house; Mary-Kate @ www.checkity.blogspot.com)

Anyways, that's the basic summary of what I've been doing for the summer.

Oh, and

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!

(bah, this text is not big enough...:/)

Ah, pulchritudo!

In a random moment of glee and happiness, I shall provide my good audience with such a Link as:

http://freeplaymusic.com/search/category_search.php?t=v&i=962

(Please press the "Preview" buttons on songs #1 and #5...but, if you are scared of badly-accented Cockney grasshoppers, refrain from #5...)

The first is a thing of beauty. The second...perhaps not as much...:)


Oh, and just for the world to know, First Love Calvary Chapel Christian ISP's production of The Taming of the Shrew is coming up in three weeks...and my dear director and her family (her oldest son of which happens to be the main part) just had to go and get stomach flu! GAH!

Pray for mercy. And no more stomach flu.

Teehee...it's Friday!!!!!

Yah! And d'ya know what Friday means????

NO MORE SCHOOL TILL MONDAY!!!!

*giggle*

*chuckle*

*guffaw*

.....

Okay, so, yes. I am ridiculously ecstatic, exuberant, and all other manner of words beginning in "e" that denote happniess. Isn't that glorious?

And now it's time for

Random Words in Latin:

Alces (al-kehs)-Moose

Porrigo (poor-rig-oh)- Dandruff
Tosticula (toh-stick-you-lah)- Little Hairdresser (courtesy of Latin 3; commonly used as an "insult" for passers-by)

And, my personal favorite,

Sandaligerula (san-dahl-ih-gare-you-lah)- Maid who picks up sandals...

Aren't bad fohnetiks fun?

Most of these words were randomly found in the Latin-English dictionary as a result of Study Hall periods with nothing else to do. (Mainly with my amici boni www.aboveallshadowridesthesun.blogspot.com and www.checkity.blogspot.com. View their lovely blogs or else. Your soul will be better for it...)

And, just for one last thing, our Shakespeare play (Taming of the Shrew) is coming up (May 21st; four more rehearsals till the Big One)...And half the cast barely knows their lines! Oh joy and happiness!!

Our director's threats of crying grow more abundant as we "progress"...

Schoolhouse Rock...

ROCKS!!!

Yes. It so does. I simply needed to state this ultimate truth, this beautiful reality. Schoolhouse Rock is amazing and...well, yeah.

Go buy your copy of the Schoolhouse Rock 30th Edition DVD NOOOOWWWWW!!!! (Here: http://www.amazon.com/Schoolhouse-Rock-Special-30th-Anniversary/dp/B00005JKTY/sr=1-1/qid=1171239771/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4031355-9278320?ie=UTF8&s=dvd)

So...yeah....that's all I really wanted to say...:0)

Randomosity ensues...

Ah yes, the everlasting joys of...Latin?!

Yes, my friends, today my Latin teacher announced that we were to write Latin plays. With the group I got, our character list consists of a Schizophrenic Cat, a Hippie Wizard, an Evil, Unnamed person w/ a Snake Voice, and a Poor Person, who also happens to be the hero of the story...

Latin is not something to be trifled with.

And the below picture, by the way, is a random, practice...thing that I drew out of boredom.

I must say that I'm ridiculously proud of it. :) (you can view my "art site" at

www.celestialbeauty.deviantart.com)

Till next time, folks.

In principio...

Erat verbum, et verbum erat- oh, heh...never mind.

Indeed. So, anyways, here is my loverly blog. At least, I think it's loverly.

To introduce myself in a nutshell, I am a nut. :0) Huzzah. I am a student of the great Mr. Leigh (you can view his blog at www.isleofthemighty.blogspot.com) and I like Latin (yeah, that dead language that takes forever to learn), Shakespeare (at least, Shakespearean plays), food, sleeping, singing (off-key, mostly), piano and art. And the color blue and bunnies and...

Yes. That is me, the nut, in a nutshell.

Hopefully I shall be getting some art up here soon; I am writing/drawing a "graphic novel" (aka a comic, call it whatever you want) and will post it here (again, hopefully). Mayhap you shall like. Mayhap not.