Thursday is in the DORMS!

I’m in Chicaaaago

and it is huuuuumid

and I am huuuungry

but I have toooooo work

I just wrote that song.  There is syncopation involved…  I am not explaining.  Classes don’t start until Monday and I’m not ready to notate anything yet, HA!

If you haven’t seen Sweeney Todd I am sorry but I ruined the ending for you in my video, lol.  You can mute it until it’s over.  Maybe I’ll ad annotations or something (although, those are VERY ANNOYING).

My personal move in went well and besides getting a virus and having a fever of a hundred and werewolf I was happy with the way my room turned out.  There is a brief tour in my video but here is my facebook album if you want to see it slower.

I told Katie the story of everything Andrew brought to school but I’ll tell you also.  I think I’ll just paste our conversation…

okay so let me tell you what i helped move in

it’s sort of funny

i’ll tell you some of it 

so, he had a cute little pull out couch

and a wooden coffee table with leafs on both sides

“Ethan allen” he said

an electric piano

rolly desk chair

IKEA shelf which we put together in ten minutes

mini fridge

tv

rug

two box fans

one oscillating fan

a bunch of tubs

he has like, seven lamps

one of them being a hanging one

he will attach to the ceiling

a wall clock

a framed picture of some print

an ottotman

and a bunch of random things along with it all

tomorrow i help him with clothes ><

and we lofted both beds

one with three people and the second by ourselves

he is spreading the name of megan as a pro bed lofter

but seriously, my klutziness shows through when i do stuff like this, LOL

Also Casey has a new teacher at my old high school and his last name is sooo long and confusing that they call him “Mr. Hunk” (outside of class) I was excited before I found out that wasn’t his real name.

Now I am going to be serious.  What is with all the forgetting and not posting?  I mean…  I know we all have lives but this is something we all agreed to do and I just don’t understand.  If you think you’re going to forget write a post it…  Start your blog earlier in the week.  I must admit, this is one of the few times I’ve written my post right before actually posting.  I was too busy but I made time.  You don’t always need to include a video and you can just talk about something.  We should have a topic list for you to just grab bag from and write something random.  Just so there’s something.  I don’t know…

Done with the serious.  My theme choice for next week is SHOW ME YOUR CAMPUS WEEK!!!!!  I want to see your room and your campus and your favorite places (Katie can LOOK for them, maybe? lol).  If you aren’t embarrassed (and they don’t mind) you can introduce your friends (mine tease me ).  I just want to see your campus.  Maybe even wear your school colors?  Just thoughts.  You don’t have to make this your whole video OR it can be a completely separate one (I might do that).  I don’t care if I start it and Mae and Brittany start the week off with movies or we wait a week to let them finish and THEN do it.  I just want to see this theme work out.

OH, so LAST NIGHT WAS FANTASTIC!  Andrew, Martha and I all got dressed up and took the El downtown to see John Williams conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  They played a TON of movie themes.  Here’s the program:

Arnaud/Williams -   Bugler’s Dream – Olympic Fanfare and Theme – FANTASTIC LOVED IT!!!
Williams -   Song for World Peace
Williams -   The Olympic Spirit 
Williams -   Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind 
Williams -   Flight to Neverland from Hook 
Williams -   Three Pieces from Indiana Jones (The Adventures of Mutt, Irina’s Theme and The Raiders March)
Williams -   Sound The Bells! 
Williams -   Memoirs of a Geisha, Suite for Cello and Orchestra FEATURING YO-YO MA!!!!
ENCORE  -   We THINK it was Harry’s Magical World or something.  I didn’t recognize it but Martha said it was…
Williams -   Flying Theme from E.T.
ENCORE  -   Imperial March from Star Wars, Marian’s Theme from Indiana Jones and ended with the Superman theme

It was SUUUUCH a good concert.  The audience was “trashy” as Andrew put it and they hooted and hollered far too much.  It was a very informal concert but we treated it as a formal event.  It was wonderful.  I spent more time watching the video monitor that John Williams was conducting from.  A little bar would go across the screen when it was time for a new downbeat.  VERY COOL!!!

Afterwards we went to Pizano’s, a really cute little Italian restaurant and bar (lol).  We had nice salads, “deep dish” pizza (with crushed tomato sauce – SO GOOD!) and fettucini (spelling?) alfredo with chicken and it was just TOO GOOD!  Andrew paid for Martha and I and it was very sweet of him.  We had a delightful time!!!

Anyway, I need to change and meet up with Andrew for wind symphony auditions!  Off I go to meet some freshmen!  ;)

Have fun with your moving in experience/classes!!!

~Love, Megan

PS:  LOLCATS WILL BE POSTED IN ANOTHER POST LATER TONIGHT!!!

Wednesday brings frustration….again

Disclaimer: This post is rather long

Again it’s Wednesday and again I’ve spent hours fighting with my computer and editing software to put together a video and again I am not sure that I will be able to put it together. However, I have finally figured out that the problem is with the camera I’m using and not my computer or editing equipment. There is a long technical explanation of the problem that I’m having that I’ll spare you all and just say that I’m still working to fix the problem but that I’m also planning on acquiring a new camera that will rid my life of this misery and woe in the next few weeks. So with any luck at all I’ll be able to post a video soon.

 

There once was a girl very sad

Because he luck was so bad

Her clip wouldn’t play

Though she’d tried all day

The whole thing just made her mad

Well there is at least one of my challenges down… kind of….sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve written a limerick…I think that’s right. I’ve also started reading twilight. So far it’s interesting…nothing I ever wanted to read but interesting. But I’m just getting started I’ll let you know what I think as I continue. The rest will have to wait until I can procure a better way of filming and delivering my challenges to you all.

Let’s see other than that I’ve had a pretty great couple of weeks. First I went on a cruise (something I’ve never done before) with my parents, my brother, my cousin, and my aunt and uncle(my aunt and uncle live in Connecticut and my cousin just moved out to L.A. so it’s a pretty rare treat to get to see them) . We made stops at Grand Cayman and Cozumel Mexico. In Grand Cayman I went snorkeling which was amazing! We saw some absolutely beautiful fish and a real ship wreck which was pretty much amazing. I also saw the BLACK PEARL! When we went to Cozumel we went on an ATV trip through the Mexican Jungle. I also was pleasantly surprised at how much Spanish I understood…a sentence or so worth. I took four years of high school level Spanish and I have almost nothing to show for it. I’m planning on taking it again in College because we are required to take four semesters of a foreign language but I’m not exactly looking forward to it. After several long painful years of being bitterly hostile at any mention of the language I’ve come to believe that though it may be true that I do not have any particular aptitude for the language I do think that a lot of my utter failure in my Spanish classes was at least partially due to several very mediocre teachers. So I’m giving it another try.

Anyway, I bought some maracas and a sombrero and got back on the ship. After a few more days at sea we docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and got our car and headed to Venice Florida which was beautiful. We spent the rest of our week there and in Disney World. When I was a kid we would spend about a month every year in Venice and while we were there we would visit Disney World. I don’t know how many of you have been Disney but if you haven’t make sure you make it happen. It is amazing. Yes things are over priced and yes as I heard many people bitterly commenting it’s a business and they’re trying to make money. But being there when I was young and now again after a year of college just makes me appreciate how truly magical what they do is. Yes part of what they do purely for profit. However, so much of what they do is reinventing themselves, staying true to Disney’s original vision and yet creating something that shocks and amazes people whether it be their first time coming or their twentieth.

Every night at ten they have an enormous fireworks display cued to music. On the first night I was there while watching the fireworks I noticed a family sitting behind me. There was a little girl of about four sitting looking determinedly miserable with hands over her ears. After a couple minutes of fireworks Tinker Bell flies off of the top of the castle over the crowds and when this started the mother tapped her daughter on the shoulder telling her to watch. After looking angrily at her mother the girl looked up following her mother’s finger and eventually saw Tinker Bell coming right towards her. Her mouth dropped open and a broad smile overtook her, apparently she had forgotten to be annoyed with the fireworks. It was one of the best moments of the trip for me and just reminded me what the world looked like at that age. It was open to everyone and full of magic and possibilities. Anything was truly possible.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the post I wrote before taking off for the vacation and I am more inclined to think why not? Why not go for it. I’m sure it’ll wear off in a week and I’ll start to think more rationally, especially with the economy and the country being what it is. But for now at least I’m thinking why not? I’ve also become more resolved to make my study abroad happen next year. I’m hoping to study abroad in London, a dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been fascinated by the literature and history of England as well as the culture, particularly the theatre. Recently due to our crappy economy traveling to London has become even more ridiculously expensive. I’m not sure how it’s going to happen but I’m going to try really hard to make it happen.

I made it home from the trip just in time to go to rhythm and booms which is “The Midwest’s Largest Fireworks Display” which was fun and tomorrow I’m leaving to spend this weekend with my dad and my aunt and uncle up at our cabin celebrating the Forth. I’m pretty excited considering the Forth is my second favorite holiday, Halloween is my favorite!

Other than that I’m enjoying being home and not having classes and seeing my family but at the same time I am so ready to be back in the Twin Cities. I miss being in a metropolitan area. Madison is a large city but it really isn’t the same thing. I’ve never been someone happy to be in a small town or even content. I love the beauties of nature but for me it’s hard to beat a beautiful skyline (Although some of the Florida sunsets give them a run).

One of the things get from my vacation was that I think I could be happy someday living the laid back lifestyle that engulfs you in Florida and the Caribbean. But I think that would have to be something I’d take on after I’ve experienced other things in life. After I’ve lined on the east coast and seen what a beautiful neurotic hectic lifestyle has to offer me. I did miss the salt water though.

I also saw WALL-E this week which was amazing. You should go out and see it immediately. I read a review saying that it was comparable to the brilliant work of Charlie Chaplin which is the truth. Much of the movie is basically silent with only sounds which convey the emotions of the robot. It also has a very “live green” plot line but it isn’t like Happy Feet which pissed me off as is bashed it’s audience over the head towards the end with their earth friendly message but instead it’s humorous and woven into the plot in a way that makes you think about the message that they are sending without distracting from the beautiful story of the sweet little robot WALL-E. So basically you should all see it.

I’m sure that this is not the most linear of all posts and I will try to make my next one better but right now I’m just trying to explain some of the thoughts that have been weaving in and out of my mind in the last couple weeks. Also my brother and his girlfriend are sitting next to me playing rock band which does not aid linear thinking or writing. But they’re both playing on expert so at least I don’t hear the annoying sound it makes when they mess up.

I’m sure there are things I’m forgetting but I’ll tackle them in my next post and hopefully soon I’ll be able to post VIDEOS! For now I blog about my thoughts, complete as many challenges as I can, answer questions and I’ll post some pictures.

Ok so here are my original six facts (a little late) that were going to be in the video that mocked me over my several painful hours of work.

1. 1. I directed “The Man Who Came to Dinner” my senior year of high school.

2. 2. My middle name is Thornton…it was my mother’s maiden name…but she technically kept her name so I don’t understand why I have to get stuck with it too.

3. 3. I have the slightly obnoxious habit of quoting or referencing television, movies, and books even when I am completely aware that the person or persons that I am quoting to will have no idea about the quote/reference I’m making…I’ll make an attempt to keep that down

4. 4. My guilt-free three… well if I had to have actors as they are now I’d have to go with 1. David Boreanaz 2. Robert Downing Jr. 3. Johnny Depp …however Gerald Butler and Collin Firth are my alternates incase any of my first three are for any reason unable to perform their duties. This would be making reference to the vlogbros videos one April 23^nd and 24^th

5. 5. I bite my fingernails…isn’t it horrible?

6. 6. I’m an amateur ghost hunter.

Here are the answers to the questions:

This last vacation would probably have to be my favorite…possibly because I won $161 in the onboard Casino.

I’m going to have to go with Pirates since I saw the Black Pearl…it just reaffirmed my love of Johnny Depp. So I must support him. Also when that movie came out I saw it about 13 times in the theatres including an interactive pirates experience (like Rocky Horror) I did with a bunch of my friend when it was finally moved to the budget theatre. Oh and I went on the new (Johnny included) Pirates ride in Disney world.

I’d have to say rubber cement is also my favorite kind of glue because it is the kind of glue I used to creat my super Tetris pieces.

I think I would like to be unbeatable at Connect Four because then you could trick people into playing it and then destroy them to get out of sticky situations….

And like Mae

Piccaso & Raspberries

Beat box & Lactose Intolerant

Finally my challenge to everyone is to not be able to just pick a topic you’ve been pondering and talk about it. It doesn’t have to be deep and meaningful just anything. Not much of a challenge I suppose but I guess this way I’m making you al pick you own topics without providing them for you. Ha.

DFTBA

Brittany

Vlogs killed the blogs star… on a Tuesday.

I don’t feel very much up to vlogging today, so I apologize. There are no rules saying one must vlog, though, so I am o.k. with this. Megan- I don’t have any kid books, but I will get one before next week and complete the challenge then. I also have to pick up a copy of Twilight. Congrats on getting yours?

This past weekend, I went to B-93 (Country Radio Station) Birthday Bash (annual free concert) and saw a bunch of country music stars, the biggest being Gretchen Wilson. The event was a lot of fun, but it has left me sunburned, itchy from mosquitoes, and a little bored here in my dorm. I took a ton of pictures and some video footage, but I have lost my camera cord to connect to my computer and this is why my vlog has failed. If I could find the cord, I would have made a vlog, but the embarrassing footage I have of my drunk friend Dan dancing will have to wait until next week…

Oh, and Jessica Simpson was there as a guest emcee. She also let them play her new country single, Come On Over. Mind you, she didn’t perform the single; she let B-93 play the recorded version. She was probably the biggest attraction, though.

Overall, I did have a good time.

The event did take up my entire weekend, though, so I have no movie reviews, but I have a long list of movies to see (and two I want to re-see). Hopefully, I will be a happy movie kid this week and see my long list:

• Get Smart (opened Friday)
• Love Guru (opened Friday)
• Wanted(opens Friday)
• Wall-E(opens Friday)
• Iron Man (see again)
• Hulk(see again)
• Hancock (opens July 2nd)
• Hellboy II (opens July 11 – must watch Hellboy again)
• THE DARK KNIGHT (OPENS JULY 18)
• The Wackness (indie flick – must find theater showing it)
• Journey To The Center of the Earth (opens July 11)
• Step Brothers (opens July 25)

At least, that is my goal list for July. August has a lot of good looking movies I want to see, too. If there is anything you think I should see, leave me a comment or message or something.

There’s a little bit that’s going on in my life, I guess. Movies, music, reading, and work pretty much own my soul right now. (I plan on starting August off with Warped Tour, btw, in Chicago if anyone else is going.)

So… questions…

1) Irrational Fears – let it be know that I have a ton of irrational fears and am known for panic attacks because of them, so here are just a couple weird ones and a general one

• Edge of my bed – I have a huge irrational fear that I am going to fall of the edge of my bed while I sleep and tend to freak out when I am too close to it. This fear started about two years ago after I had major back surgery. I was in a ton of pain and pretty much couldn’t move, but I would freak out when I was too close to the edge (like half a foot). I was convinced that I would roll off of the bed in my sleep, even though (a) I could barely move without any help and (b) I would wake up from the pain.
• People touching my back – This is a fear I have had forever, but I grew worse because of my back surgery. I can’t get massages because of this fear. My boyfriend is the only one who can get away with touching my back and it took forever to get that much trust.
• Not being in control – Seems pretty simple, but it isn’t. I am pretty laid back, so my “control” issues are slightly strange, but this is the steam of all of my fears. Like, I freak out when I can’t see in the dark because of my control issues. I freak out when I wear goggles for science classes because of my lack of peripheral vision. People can’t touch my neck or back because I can’t see them and be in control. I stay far away from drugs because of the anxiety this fear causes.

2) Family Vacation

My best family vacation was a trip to Disney World when I was like in elementary school. It was fun and something completely different from every other family vacation I had taken. My family went to the Balloon Festival and camped every year, so this was my first trip to a resort/amusement park and it was amazing and special.

3) Favorite Book

My favorite book is Sabriel by Garth Nix. My favorite author, though, is Kurt Vonnegut (So it goes), and my favorite comic book is Watchmen by Alan Moore.

The only other thing I want to talk about is Brittany’s question of following your dream or following something realistic. I want to be an author. That would be the most amazing thing in the world to me. Right now, I am planning on major in English and minoring in Business. When I get married, I do want to be a stay home mom (I am the biggest feminist out there – it is all about the choice to work or stay home, so don’t criticize me on this, please) and I want to be able to write. Right now, I am figuring out a back-up plan that follows a very similar path to my dream job (English major/business minor). I might end up in advertising or journalism, but I will never give up on my dream to be an author. I guess you could say I am working to cover both my dreams and my bum if I don’t make it, right now with my college work.

I have a card my mom once put in my lunch box for me to find at school the card simply says, “The truth be told, you can do anything your heart desires. Please always remember this and Dream Big!” I have been told I can do anything since I was very little, and I believe it with my whole heart. I always find it way better to try and fail then to never try.

Eh… i am going to go get Qdoba for dinner and then go home for a week or two. I realized today that I haven’t spent more than a night at a time at home since the end of September (I worked and stayed here during all of my breaks). I am not feeling too happy here in my white dorm anymore, so I am taking a break from campus living. My vlog next week will feature some special place in my house for all of you.

x’s and o’s alwaysandforever,

Mae

PS. Links I recommend:

Youtube video for paper folding Star Wars nerdfighter
Photoshop genius

EDIT. 23:41 – I just saw Get Smart and I enjoyed it a lot. I have plans to see three more movies this week (Love Guru, Wanted, and Wall-E), so expect tons of full reviews next Tuesday when I have plenty of time to post