Drving Me Crazy

Hello everyone,
I feel that on this blog sometimes we forget to mention things about our introvertness and just get caught away in the story-telling and sharing. Well here is a little bit of information on me that has to do with both my introvert and extrovert sides.

I love alone time.  It can be the best, and I don't always get it, so my alone car rides to school each day have been precious.  When I am by myself I can turn up my music loud and listen to whatever I want.  Say I want ACDC, or Justin Bieber, no one is there to say nay or neigh (because there are no horses in my car either!)

But that time alone has brought someone out in me; someone who is both amazing and terrifying, and a little terrified.  I have brought out the aggressive driver.  Not so much aggressive, but purposefully and I don't want anyone stopping me.

Alyssa said it best, " you know how to drive unsafe safely." this simple means that yes I speed and change lanes fast, but I do it in a smart way.  I always use my blinker.  Always use my seatbelt. Always check for other cars.  So while I might be the person to tailgate you, I know my limits and wont get too close to your bumper.

This craziness has brought out my paranoia too.  I am always looking for the police. Always. And I watch for people following me because out of all the people in the world, I'm the on to be followed. Lol. But the moment I stop worrying I know it will happen, because it always happens to the people not watching.

So driving is literally making me go insane, which is ironic, because me going for drives is what gets me out of the house which is making me go insane.  Catch 22.

Amanda

My Musical Evolution as Told By Alyssa

Amanda already gave her piece about Music and since we have such different music tastes, I wanted my chance to write about the evolution of my music taste as well as what music means to me.

In the way that colors that add character the world, music injects vibrancy into my life and I couldn't possibly imagine the world without it. The sheer, effervescent joy I get from music is hard to express in words. It's invisible art that only the ear can detect. Color adds the aesthetic but music adds the flavor. For this reason, I incorporate music on a daily basis. I begin and end my days with music.  Every mundane, monotonous thing I do is done with music in the background. It has a dual purpose as it has the ability to distract me. The notes create this sound barrier blocking my troubles away from the world, yet it keeps me focused; creating this untouchable bubble. A life without music is simply unimaginable.


The Evolution of my Music Taste

The Younger Years

The era of Kindergarten to elementary school can be characterized by all things Disney. I listened to Classic Disney and Disney Channel Stars. Memories of jumping on the bed, belting note for note to I won't Say I'm in Love are forever imprinted in my mind. I also do not bear any shame for listening to the Jonas Brothers. Yes, I was the girl who screamed in a high-pitched voice whenever a Jo-Bros Music Video came on. Disney Channel stars were the only artists I knew; I could sing all their words by heart. And can I just say, Aly&AJ were greatly underrated.

Middle School

Middle School is where my music taste really began to develop and change. I discovered what I considered, "Big Kid" music; the kind of music that didn't play on Disney Channel. I listened to everything heard on the Top 40 Countdown, and my 12-year old self felt so cool. However; this was also the era where I discovered music scores, K-pop, Alternative Music, and Indie Music a la Vampire Weekend. I would listen to the Narnia Soundtrack and hum awkwardly/incoherently to the swoops of violins and cellos. I would squeal and dance to Korean artists. My inability to play guitar did not impede me from playing air guitar to All Time Low.Needless to say my music tastes is a little bit everywhere. My hoarding skills kicked in as I scoured every corner of the internet, looking for music. YouTube was the best haven for music and I would relish every moment I discovered a new band.

High School to Present

Nothing drastic was added to my repertoire that I didn't already have; rather, these past years have been about soldifying what I already like. Alternative music didn't amount to much; I still like it, but I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore fan (although I have rekindled my love for All Time Low) and I have a newfound appreciate for indie folk. I still listen to K-Pop and Music scores but the latter is not listened to as often as the former. And I still find my guilty pleasure in sugary pop music (I am a 5SOS and The Vamps fan).

Despite my musical evolution, I still find myself open to most genres. So if I rave about the one odd rap song once in a blue moon, that may be why. For me, discovering a new song is the equivalent to opening presents on Christmas day. Most importantly, I love music for what it can offer people. It's a universal communicator. I've made friends with people solely through our love of the same music and it's such a powerful tool for communicating. As an introvert, music is an escapists' device where I can lose myself in music. There are times when I just lie in bed, stare at my ceiling, and listen to music. I don't have to worry about any of my problems or insecurities.  I can just absorb the music and feel a sense of tranquility sink in. And the fact that someone out there feels the same makes it even better.

Being friends with me

Hello Everyone,

So sometimes I get bored. Correction, most of the time I get bored. But some of those times I start to think about what it is like to be friends with me and my many sides.

I thought that would make a great series.  Me. Dealing with myself, and my many different interests. 

I am very excited about this.  I already have a few in mind.  I will be getting Alyssa's help to help give examples of things I say and ways I act. 

I will be making lists and talking about the quirky things that I do. For example, her are just some things that happen when being friends with me:

1. I really like to correct peoples grammar.  I do it enough, that even I call myself a grammar Nazi.  Which is probably something I should not do sense my lineage is actually  German on one side.... But not only do I correct other people's grammar, but I correct my own.  Mid sentence, during a texting conversation, receiving papers back from teachers.  You name it, I will correct it.  And on that note, I hate when other people correct my grammar. Yes, that is very hypocritical. I also hate hypocrites. The irony.
2. I refuse to get my finger prints done just in case one day I commit a crime and get away with it.  I have no plans of being a criminal, but I am very paranoid.  To the point, if I ever need to steal something valuable to save someone I love, I will not allow my finger prints in the system.  Now that I am 18 volunteering is difficult.
3. I have lost my phone in the fridge.  I went to get food, and set it down so I could use both hands.  Then the fridge closed and I prepared the food, completely forgetting about the phone.  About an hour later I heard vibrating coming from the fridge and was very confused.

So this is the stuff I am planning.  But with more purpose.  I would change the titles to "Being friends with an introvert" and just list some quick stories about me being an introvert.  Or an artist. Or an IB student.  Or many more things that I am.

I hope you all like this idea.
Amanda

Timing is Everything

Hello everyone,
I have a great story to tell all of you.  Something that I am all too familiar with, and I probably should not be. And this is lightening the mood.

Don't get me wrong, when you meet a new person, being able to say the perfect thing to make them feel comfortable is great.  But saying something at the beginning of a presentation, well you be the judge of this one.

I was partnered up with a girl to do a debate today.  We had practiced and studied and new exactly what to say when.  We were going against another team, one that we knew would not be difficult to challenge.

The class started and we had a few minutes, so we waited. Both of us were nervous. The tension was rising.  Neither of us was saying anything.  Millions of thoughts ran through my head.

I don't get nervous talking in front of people.  But as I looked over I saw my partners hands were shaking.  I told her." oh I'm nervous too." thinking it would calm her down a little. 

But it didn't.

So my mind started racing.  We only had a few seconds before the presentation started, and my partner looked like she was freaking out.

10 seconds. Come on Amanda think.

5 seconds. I can see our opponents about to start.

2 seconds. I tap my partners shoulder.

1 second.  She looks me in the eye.

time.  My teacher tell the other team to start.

1 second in. I lean into my partner and whisper the first thing that comes to mind.

"I have to poop."

We both laughed obnoxiously for a good minute while everyone else in the classroom stared.  They, fortunately, hadn't heard me.  After they got us to settle down, telling us we were very rude, I noticed my partner wasn't shaking anymore.

So my plan worked.  My weird strange, don't try this at home last minute resource worked.

But does that make it great?

Just remember to laugh sometimes.
-Amanda

Spending Time Like an Introvert: College Apps

College . Oh how I shudder at the word. Writing it, reading it, saying it, thinking about it, it makes me extremely apprehensive, yet it still has the power to intrigue me and make me excited about my future as well. You would think that I'd be afraid of socializing and leaving home, and that's partly true, but the main reason why I feel so anxious about college is the potential rejection. For me, I've thought of college application season as a sadistic, twisted love game. You spend four years of your life prepping yourself for your future suitor until it becomes you're sole motivation to do anything in school. It gets worse because colleges simply lead you on with their elaborate but annoying stalker-esque brochures and pamphlets, but even if you apply that doesn't mean you'll get in. College apps are the equivalent of being stood up in that sense. Oh, and don't forget that you have to pay for those apps without a fee! (And no, there is no refund if you aren't accepted).

So what's a person like me to do? My response: hide under the covers and avoid it all. I's so tempting to sit back and put it off, but eventually it's a tremendous weight that will begin to take a toll on your shoulders until you're reduced to Atlas carrying the world on shoulders (but maybe less dramatic). As an introvert, I don't like talking about it and that is not good to say the least. I think I have this weird avoidance switch in my brain that prevents me from doing anything proactive. I would also wager that it's the reason for my expert procrastinator skills.

For those who haven't done college apps, it's not so hard as it is tedious and technical and that's why you need to do it early. I won't drill into you what every other adult is going to tell you and advise you to do your college apps early, (even though you should). Instead I want to advise you guys to bite the bullet and do it. It's easier said than done because every time college apps cross my mind, my brain shuts down and I quickly repress any thought of doing it. So, I just try to have fun with it and keep myself organized. Every time I start a new account for a college, I write down my login info and any other questions I have about the apps. Part of my apprehension is the fact that I feel this lack of control; I feel so lost because it seems like everyone else knows what they're doing and I'm just floating around without a buoy. I would like to call it a necessary evil.

I feel like this blog post is lacking inspirational words of wisdom, but the honest truth is, I don't have much to say. I'm in the midst of it all myself, and I'm still learning too. So this post is more about venting in the hopes that maybe any of you potential college students can relate and commiserate with me. And that is comforting in and of itself.

-Alyssa

November

Hello Everyone,
wow have the months been getting faster or am I just building up a tolerance to time?

I cant believe it is November already.  I remember it was just my birthday in September, just letting out for summer in June, just starting the new year in January.  Hell, it was just my first day of school in third grade.  I remember walking up with my backpack and lunch box.  I accidentally walked into the second grade classroom and was all embarrassed. 

But everyone feels this way.  And no matter what we do time will always be flying past, much quicker than we want.  Being a senior in high school, it is a constant that I am trying to get school work done, do my college applications, and make memories that everyone says I should have this year. 

I feel like the quicker time flies, the more I try to hold onto it.  Now that I'm in my last year, I have started realizing that I can easily make a B and spend time with friends.  I am doing do much more with people, things I will never be able to do again.  Both because we won't be here much long and I'm in the only time of my life I can be truly reckless.

Now that I'm having such a great time, I'm wishing I could have done this from the start.  Because time flies when you're having fun, and when you're having fun you don't want time to fly.  I'm watching as all my friends plan to move far away to other places, and thinking I will never see them again.

So I grasp.  I'd rather have a few great hours with you to remember you by, then to let them pass because I was to nervous to miss you.

Food for thought.
Love,
Amanda

Spending Time Like an Introvert: Sleeping

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for this month being a slow one for the blog, getting back into the school schedule can be difficult.  But now I am hoping to have everything figured out and I can just get back to blogging regularly.

So us introverts love many things: fandoms, books, TV shows, etc.  But there is one thing that all people love, both introverts and extroverts.  Something completely amazing.  Something so great that we dream about it while we aren't doing it. Incase you did not read the title, I am talking about sleeping.

Sleep can be so amazing, we just long for it all of the time.  But when the time comes for us to go to sleep, we fight it with everything we can.  This seems just like an oxymoron.

I have come up with a solution as to why we as humans might fight going to sleep. 

When I wake up in the morning, I don't want to get up because I have a full day filled with work I don't want to do before I can enjoy myself.  I work all day on things that other people want me to do.  But once I get this done, I have very little time to do what I want to do.  So I squish in bits of fun and pay for it in the morning when I slept so little.

Maybe this is just me, but I think that this is what most teens do.  If you have a different reason, I would love to here it!

Love,
Amanda

Induction Ceremonies

Behold! The Glorious Cupcake!! ^__^

Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately - I'm not sure for you guys) but this post will have to be quick, because I have just been super busy lately and four years of a rigorous college prep course has not beat the procrastinating ways out of me. Nonetheless, I will try very hard to keep this post succinct.
The reason for such a late post is due to my National Honor Society Induction ceremony. I had mixed feelings about it because a quarter of the way through, I had the urgent need to go home and sleep; and keep in mind, that the actual ceremony hadn't started yet. However; I do enjoy a nice dress up and of course cake or in this case, cupcakes afterwards (I'm pretty sure that's why we all go in the first place). And I'm also proud to say that I was able to snatch the last cake-pop! Needless, to say it was delicious, but I digress.

Induction ceremonies are a mixed bag of fun and tediousness. In this particular situation, I was not looking forward to it. Even though the alternative may seem lame, I had much rather stay home and do homework on a Monday afternoon, yet I do enjoy variety to my weekly routine. And while I'm weighing all the pros and cons, I might as well add that walking on stage in a not-so-graceful fashion, is most definitely a con. Luckily, the entire ceremony was hastily planned and there was some  slight turbulence with the overall production, but I suppose that is a high school ceremony's charm. I can only hope what graduation will have in store, but either way I get cupcakes so it's good on both fronts. 

Terror Kingdom

Hello Everyone,
Sorry it has been a few days sense we posted, life has been keeping us busy.

But I figured sense we had been gone so long, a new story would be appropriate.
I hate rollercoasters.  I know this is a very rare thing for people to hate, but I just do.  They seem poorly made, and high up; I just never want to go on one.
For my 13th birthday my family, my best friend, and I went to animal kingdom. We walked around to look at some animals and then my friend asked me to go on a ride with her.  She told me it was not that big of a deal, nothing scary.
Mount Everest.
I will never ride another roller coaster again; that forever will be my last one.
The ride started to climb. and climb. Just. Climbing.
My number one greatest fear is heights. So climbing is scaring me to death.
But then the track ends. And the ride pauses. And a click is heard.
We started to fall backwards.
I was so scared, I just curled into a ball and shook.
Instead of wasting all of your time on how scared I was, I was still shaking two hours later when I tried to eat my lunch.
Very long story short, if you don't laugh you will cry. That and don't take me on a roller coaster.  Luckily I have earned a great story and learned a valuable lesson. What more can we ask for?
Love,
Amanda

Spending Time Like An Introvert: Shopping

Like most girls my age, I will indulge myself in the pastime that is shopping. I am a lover of fashion and just pretty objects in general, thus shopping has always been a wonderful treat. However; there are several types of shoppers out there, and as an introvert, there are some things about shopping that can make one apprehensive. Shall we outline them?

1). Crowds

Personally, I do fine in crowds. They don't bother me as much as it does to some people, but sometimes crowds can be particularly annoying come winter time and other sale seasons. Prime example: Black Friday. Never again shall I take part in this capitalist  ritual. A hectic crowd can be just that: hectic. There's no room for thinking , and it's hard to focus as well. I would much rather have a store to myself where I can find the stuff I want in peace without having to wait in lines or maneuver through a crowd

2). Helpful Employees

After working as a sales associate, I have come to understand as to why other sales associate are so perky and just so helpful. If you're lucky, you'll come across a sales associate who knows how to keep their distance but is intuitive enough to know when  to throw a buoy when you're drowning in a sea of "I have know idea what I'm looking for".  Then, God bless them, there are the sales associate who are all up in your face with a wide smile and a voice two octaves higher than normal. Then again, I think that's just a mutual problem for everyone.

3). Going up to the cash register

This is something you grow out of eventually, but every once of a while there is that sense of apprehension lurking underneath the surface. There's something intimidating about going up to that tall counter. It's especially difficult if you're in a store like Hollister or Forever21 and the sales associate look really snooty or just uncaring, so any means of witty banter or awkward laughter are futile in soothing the wooden transaction.

4). Asking employees for help

It's a sad shame that the stores that I go into always have the really cool, hipster-esque blokes with their beanies, thick-rimmed glasses, and the taciturn-the-world-is-too-mainstream-so-I-have-to-look-somewhat-broody look on them. These are the kind of people I try to avoid, because I feel like I'm pestering them and it's like they really don't care, or sometimes I just don't want to go through the hassle of asking someone. Or maybe I should just avoid hipster-clothing stores... Either way, just aim for the nicest looking person and cross your fingers that they're helpful. Don't get me wrong, most clothing associates aren't mean it's just that they look really intimidating due to the coolness-vibes that reverberate off them, or maybe that's just me...Like I said I just need to avoid the hipster stores...

5). Not knowing how to browse

Learning how to shop on your own can be a bit of a challenge because I feel as if I'm missing a chunk of myself without my mom's guiding presence. Of course, I'd separate from her once we've landed in said store, but shopping without your mom in a 10 mile radius, is a whole different story. Solitary shopping has you wandering around a store in an awkward fashion i.e. sifting through racks without really processing what you're looking at and cordially refusing the help of a sales associate when in reality you have no idea what you want or where to start. The easy fix is just practice. Outline what stores you're going to and have a rough idea of what you want. It will make a world of difference. And don't be afraid to wait in the dressing room line, because I've learned  that nobody cares if you go in the dressing room more than once. There are much weirder people out in the world.

6). How to hold your shopping bag with grace

 If you take anything from this article today, let it be this: there is no way to hold your shopping bags gracefully. And if such etiquette exists, no one has given me the memo. For the memo-less among us, just hold your bag high! (Or low if that's suits your fancy). Just hold it how you want, because I've tried all  the different ways. Forget holding your bag in the crook of your arm because those straps can pretty much cut off circulation. Kicking your bags are also inevitable and forget about trying to avoid people. If you hit them, you hit them. My only advice is to double bag what you can and be on your way. 

A Bare Attack

Hellos Everyone,
Just another story from another weird moment in my life.

I was working at a sixth grade retreat recently, and it had been a very long day. At one point I was caught in a spaghetti fight.  So as you can tell it was a very long and tiring day. 

I also was dirty.  I had brought two pairs of shoes but both had been ruined.  So when I was having a terrible headache and tired, thirty minutes after I was supposed to leave, I was ready to just get out of there.

I went to ask my mom if I could leave, but she said I needed to get something out of her car first.  I didn't want to grab my wet shoes and put them on.  Mom said her car was right out the door, so I just ran out there to quickly grab my T-shirt in bare feet.

On my way out I passed this woman who was also a leader for the youth group.  She saw that I wasn't wearing shoes and asked if owned the pink shoes in the kitchen.  I said no. Then she said something about me catching some unknown really long disease name that I could care nothing about.

I just kept walking and ignored her.  I didn't feel good about that, but I was tired and I seriously couldn't care less.

So I grabbed my shirt, and realized I had to go back in  and grab my bag.  I walked in to the room to give my mom's keys back and then went to the kitchen.  In there I grabbed my bag, and as I turn to leave, the woman stopped me again. 

She stopped me and tried to tell me about this disease again, but she made the mistake of about a minute in asking me if I even knew what this disease was.  I am not thrilled with my answer, but I looked her in the eye and said," Yes." then I walked past her.

Sure that was some good sass. Sure I also lied to someone at a Christian youth retreat.  I really don't care if I'm walking for a minute outside in bare feet to grab something.  Maybe the only lesson is please don't talk to me if I'm tired and just trying to leave quickly. Thanks.

Love,
Amanda

I Am A Storyteller

Hello Everyone,

So recently I came across the realization that I am a story teller. Yes, that old person who sits around fires doing nothing because they have lived an entire life, telling other people bits of wisdom and humorous satires. Maybe not that majestic, but I would like to think of myself as that kind of person.

I was walking and talking with my friend Alyssa, not this one, and she was telling me a story. Correction.  She told me a sentence about her day. I laughed and looked her in the eye, saying," If that was me, this is how I would say it."

Not changing a fact, but embellishing the truth, I retold her information.  We both laughed as I acted out the part of a girl being poked in the eye, and I spoke of the lesson I learned from not watching where I walked.

But this alone was not what got me thinking about how I am a storyteller.  For one event cannot cause a label like that to be true.

Later I sat in the car with Alyssa, yes this one, speaking of something that happened to me that day.  I had to tell a back story for her to understand this story, than went on a rant with a few more that I had.  We both laughed, and I accidently ran into my car horn in my uncontrollable squeals scaring the other students who were heading home.

It got me to thinking, I love telling stories.  I just love it.  I have lived some great times too! Why don't I tell stories?

So on here, whenever I have a new or old story to tell, I will be sharing them with you.  Mostly funny, a few meaningful, and maybe one or two sad. But I would really like to share something with you guys, and I hope that these let you know a little more about us, and how crazy my life really is.

Love,
Amanda

Fangirl Fridays: Mia Thermopolis

Here's one thing about growing up; sometimes you can't properly cherish something for what it's worth until you get older. That said, I don't think I fully realized how great Princess Diaries was in its time, nor did I realize how much I could relate to Mia Thermopolis.

First, let's be clear, I am not a princess and Julie Andrews is not my grandmother (oh how I wish), but Mia is one of us. For one thing, she is socially awkward. Prime examples include setting fire to a diplomat's sleeve and getting a brain freeze from pear ice-cream, all in the same night might I add. That said, watching the movie made me realize the extent of our similarities, especially in terms of our shared athletic ineptitude as well.

But most importantly she is seemingly invisible to the masses, and she has no intention of becoming visible any time soon. As an introvert, I relish sometimes in anonymity. Part of this is because I am modest; I don't like attention drawn to me, because then awkward levels rise and self-consciousness settles in.  I think that's why it's so easy to relate to Mia; she exhibits all the trials and tribulations that all teenagers undergo (i.e. puking during a school debate or just being sat on). But  when her royal grandmother drops in, all of sudden the spotlight is on her whether she likes it or not. Thus the movie follows her story as she tries to grow accustomed to her new role. Inevitably it got to her head, but who wouldn't? She shows that even the most down-to-earth people can succumb to the temptation of popularity.  I don't believe that the world is made up of introverts and extroverts; rather, we both carry traits of each group, with one being more prominent than the other. That said, I think all of us have a part that likes being heard. We like to be acknowledged. It's what we do with the attention that we're given that matters the most.

 It really hit home in the end when Mia reads a letter from her deceased father saying that the "brave may die, but the cautious never live". Watching the movie as 17 year-old teenager trying to come to terms with an impending future racked with the unknown and responsibility, I realized that I shouldn't be so afraid of speaking out. Towards the end, Mia makes a speech, soaking wet wearing a hoodie and jeans, awash with a new sense of confidence, where she accepts her role as princess. By accepting this role, she understands that importance of using your voice to change words into actions. With that she embraces herself, coming to terms with the influence that she has so that she can make a difference in the world.

So within the span of 2 hours, we see the transition of a socially awkward teen to an awe-inspiring princess which goes to show that having a voice isn't such a bad thing after all. That is why I love this movie so much: it is the perfect mix of humor and wit wrapped up with a wonderful moral message that any generation can take with them. And that's why I admire Mia Thermpolis, because she taught us that we can grow out of our awkwardness and that princess or not, you have every right to speak your mind.

Movie Review: The Maze Runner

Hello Everyone,

This past weekend I went to go see The Maze Runner in theatres.  I was fortunate to see it very quickly after it came out, one day exactly. 

If you could care less and just want to know about this movie, skip this paragraph.

Now I must confess something before I share my review...
I am one of those crazy fans that reads books years before they are movies and then judge people when they watch the movie first.  No, your argument on why the movie is better is not valid, please try again never.
But I picked up the maze runner a few years ago to read the back. Boy stuck in maze. Cool. No memory. Awesome. Girl comes along. Bleh. All are teenagers. Juvenile. And I promptly returned the book to the shelf, never to read it. 
Recently I saw the Giver, dang another book I forgot to read, and they played the trailer for the maze runner.  IT LOOKED AMAZING. I texted Alyssa on the way home knowing she had read it. Two questions is the only thing I needed: is it a romance and is it juvenile? No and no.
Life got in the way, and I saw the movie first.  I am now in the process of reading the book and love it, so just remember this review is coming from someone who hasn't read the entirety of the book.

Click picture to follow link.

So the movie went something like this.

Running.
Trapped.
Running.
Asian kid saying," You are dead."
Thomas being like," Nah brah I got this."
Running for his life.
Death.
Running.
Chronicles of Narnia brat continuing to be a brat.
Running.
Death.
Escape?


If you know nothing about this movie, here is quick review that will give no spoilers.
Thomas wakes up in a cage with no memory, surrounded by teenage boys and four giant walls. He is quickly accepted into the society that was made by these teens, but is constantly questioning what is outside the walls, the maze.  Each morning runners go out amongst the ever changing paths looking for a way out.  But they must return before the gates close or they will be trapped and killed by creatures called Grievers that haunt the maze at night.
Everything is going well until Thomas asks too many questions.  Than people start being attacked. When Thomas breaks one too many rules, the clan is try to decide his future, only to find another person has come into their society through the cage. But this time it is a girl.
With more attacks happening and some even during the day, the group must decide: trust Thomas, a newbie kid who has brought them into trouble or fight a battle that seems hopeless.

So pretty awesome sounding. The movie never had a dull moment. It went from wrestling scenes to attacks to running. Let me just say there was lots of running. The movie really connects the viewer to the characters, and in the final scenes when everything changes, tears might (probably will) be brought to your eyes.

This movie is a must see. While it does not follow the book exactly, it still hold the basic information and tells the story of survival in an intense action packed way. I am planning on seeing it again after I have read it, if that tells you anything about how much I loved it!

Enjoy,
Amanda

Attending Hell

Hello Everyone,

I figured that Alyssa and I had been working on our series for a while now so I wanted to write a post about something else.

School has been very busy for both of us.  Being seniors, we have school and college preps and extra circulars and sports and clubs. Blogging just has to come second most days, if even at all. I'm sure that most of you can understand that one though.

But something else happened to me today, something that could happen to any introvert. (Or any person really)

I needed to be checked out of school at 1:30 to go to an appointment.  I went to the attendance and had it all worked out so that she would call me down a few minutes before to sign out.

So I went all day enjoying the fact that I would get out of Spanish 40 minutes early. I am sure that everyone has had that feeling, the joy of knowing you will get to skip out of a room filled with kids working their fingers to death. You, feeling the brisk air on your walk into freedom....

1:25 came around and no call.  My teacher knew I needed to leave so she asked if I wanted a pass to go.  I said I would wait for the call.

1:30 came and no call.  My teacher offered another pass, but I again I said I could wait.

1:35 came and no call.  My teacher didn't even ask but just slipped me the pass in a silent agreement that my swagger of joy would now just be a quiet meander of shame. No call means no bragging.

I arrived to the office and she was on the phone. She, the woman who held the fate of my release in her hands, or on her desk I guess.

I waited till 1:40 for her to get off the phone.  Just stood there feeling like nothing.

When she did put the phone down, she looked me in the eyes and in the most annoyed, demeaning voice I have ever heard said," I didn't call you yet."

"My teacher sent me." That was it. no more words. I could feel the hate coming from her eyes.

She tore the pass from her desk and threw it at me.  I had to grab at it before it hit the ground.  Then I was running.  No skips of joy for me, but instead sprinting for my life.

I just cannot believe some people.....

Well I hoped you enjoyed another humorous story in the life of me, all I can do is say at least my life is better than someone who finds joy in torturing kids.

Love,
Amanda

An Introvert's Tools: Tumblr

"What do you do in your free time?" 

I do not own this picture. Picture courtesy of Google Images.

I've never liked this question, and I still don't,  mainly because I feel like any of the answers I give are not sufficient enough. Sports are out of the question, primarily because I don't participate in physical
activities. I don't have a specific hobby nor do I do anything remotely spectacular. That said, semi-advanced warning: I tend to be verrrry self-deprecating. Alas, I feel as an introvert, most of my free time is invested towards fandoms, writing, reading, and... of course Tumblr.

If there ever was a tool made for Introvert's, it's David Karp's creation: Tumblr. I don't want this post to be a glorification of Tumblr as I and so many others are so apt to do, rather, I want to highlight what it does for the introvert community. Tumblr is more than just reblogging pictures because as the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words," so looking at one's dashboard can say a lot about a person. Looking at my dashboard, you would notice that I am a fan of robotically-in sync Korean Boybands, SuperwhoLock, pretty pictures of exotic places, self-deprecating text posts, and the occasional bunny.
And for those who have the Tumblr mobile app can definitely make use of it's social avoidance capabilities although you may not see that in the iTunes product description. There are countless times when I'm in a social setting without anybody that I can comfortably interact with, so I resort to my hand dandy Tumblr app on my phone to casually scroll through my dashboard. Note that this has it's pros and cons, because I know I should advocate for more social interaction but when the situation calls for it, sometimes it's a good safety net to fall back on.

https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%253A%252F%252F33.media.tumblr.com%252F2e337a7e207736c71e16bd22a11751da%25
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(I do not own this picture) 

Another thing I like is that I have the choice of using pictures or words to express myself and in that way, I attract other people who share the same interests as I. I know several people who have "Tumblr friends". The term is pretty self-explanatory, but I find it amazing that you can make friends across the world and you can be bonded by just a common interest until you learn more about each other. (That said kids, practice internet safety because creepers and pedophiles) I wouldn't say I have any close "Tumblr friends" to speak of, but I have connected with other people through Tumblr and it's pretty darn exciting because I didn't have to do much social interaction to do it. As an introvert, it takes a lot of energy to open yourself to others but Tumblr can cut corners. I can be sitting in my bed just scrolling and make acquaintances or friends with a follow and a quick message.

And I don't know what it is, but there is something more secure about sharing your insecurities with strangers. I've noticed that since I've gotten Tumblr, there is something...almost freeing about putting everything from your "feels" to your actual feelings on Tumblr. They can be manifested in the form of text posts or just pictures. Even, I have succumbed to this at times, because even if I have put my feelings out there and there is a sense of relief that at least someone out there knows that I'm not happy. Sure they don't know me, and I don't know them, so of course they won't even give me their two cents to my plight, but the fact that they know makes all the difference. They just know and it's acknowledged.  To an extent, there is an absence of judgement and I will admit to having a fear of judgment, but I also think that that's a mutual fear that most people have. We are all afraid of judgement but in a way, Tumblr, and social media as a whole eliminates that. Maybe this is more of a personal trait rather than a introvert's trait, but I don't speak my mind very often, and Tumblr allows me to do that in more ways than one.That said, who would have thought that social media would have been the platform to bring introverts closer together? You could even say it's pretty ironic...

Lots of Love
Alyssa

Spending Time Like an Introvert: Studying

Hello Everyone,
Here is another instalment of spending time like an introvert.  I think most people will be able to relate to this post.

I found myself recently trying to remember what John J Pershing did exactly, or if that was even his name, and it dawned on me how much I hate studying.

Whenever I get a test back with a bad grade I mentally scold myself.  I tell myself that next time I will study for days, sleep well, eat a healthy breakfast, and ask questions.  But every time, somewhere between that day and the next test something changes. 

I get this idea in my head while I'm not at home, that today is the day to start being productive.  I plan out what I need to study and for how long. I then make a promise to myself that I can goof off in school because at home I will work hard.

Then I get home....

It's not that I don't want to study, it's that there are far better things for me to be doing.  And by better I mean funner. (that is not a word; maybe I should study more) So I say I will just study later.

Later never comes....

I then take the test knowing that something like this was mentioned but having no clue what the answer is. I sit and stare until something comes to me and just put that.

This is not my picture.

Now comparatively, I am a good student. I make all As and Bs, I just refuse to put that extra effort in.  So I really shouldn't complain.  But I know that for everyone, introvert and extroverts alike, doing things we hate is hard.  Just always try to remember the good that can come out of pushing yourself.

Love,
Amanda

An Introvert's Tools: The Hoodie

Whoever invented the hoodie will forever be in my debt;  it has facilitated my introvert way of living. Let us begin with its various functions.

First, the pocket: it is the most crucial capability of this device and it is by far the most cherished. If I had a dime for every pair of my jeans that didn't have satisfactory pockets, I would be a very rich woman right now. This pocket makes life incredibly convenient, starting with its orientation: it's right in the front. It makes the perfect hand holder. It decreases your awkward levels by a good 40% because it solves the problem of finding the appropriate place to put your hands. Do I put my hands in my pocket at the risk of looking disinterest or slouchy? Do I put my hands on my hips, or is that too cocky? Maybe I should cross my arms, but then that makes me look guarded. Or maybe I should just fling my arms spread eagle?! But that is what Hoodie pockets are made for! Not to mention, it's the perfect catchall for all your junk. As a natural hoarder, giant pockets are a must. I have carried a wide range of objects in my hoodie pocket starting with food, to phones, to just plain trash.

Also hoodies come with great evasive fucntions. Are you at the mall and you come across someone you know from school? well ne'er fear for you can simply throw on your hood. Possible awkward social encounter avoided!

In terms of fashion, hoodies are extremely versatile and socially acceptable  in almost every situation. It can be paired with skirts, jeans, and shorts. Perfect for fall and winter, it keeps you nice and toasty in the way that only hoodies can.  And if you want to achieve the perfect level of irony and/or utter distaste for the world, opt for wearing a Hoodie in the heat. (Brownie points if the hoodie is darkly colored to increase ironic levels). Plus, every subset of social group wears hoodies making it universal. And for introverts especially, wearing a hoodie can help you blend in with the masses  assuming that it's not an eccentric one. Preferably for me, I love wearing hoodies at home with pajama bottoms on lazy weekends. Hoodies are the ultimate garb for housing the headphones or your snacks when your ready to snuggle into your bed losing yourself in your tv show of the moment.

Most importantly, every hoodie is embedded with a story as told by its stains, its tears, it's fading prints, telling the world of the wearers story without him or her having to utter a single word. The hoodie is to the introvert as armor is to a knight or as a shell is to a turtle. It carries protection and the comfort of home all because of a hood and those amazing things called pockets!

I do not own this image; image courtesy of Pinterest

Side note: I can't believe I actually found a hoodie that is made to look like armor! How befitting!

An Introvert's Tool: Headphones

I know I touched base on this topic in a prior post, but I felt the need to expand on this subject. But wait! This post won't be the first nor will it be the last! I want to start a new segment which talks about an Introvert's Tools: objects that we Introverts can't live without and the  things that help define us as Introverts. (I struggle with explanations so hopefully you'll get the feel of this segment with this first post!)

I do not own this photo; image courtesy of Pinterest

If there's one thing an Introvert can't live without, it's headphones. In fact, I don't know how anyone could live without headphones. It's a devastating day when I leave my headphones at home and I spend my day kicking my butt for wasting my opportunity to listen to music.
The number one thing about headphones is its ability to create an untouchable bubble in which the outside world cannot penetrate. It's an unspoken rule that, if the headphones are on, the mouth is off. No one talks to you and you don't talk to them. As a introvert, headphones make the best avoidance devices against social situations.  For me, headphones are a must for various reasons: starting with focus. I need music to focus on homework because it helps me tune out as I am like a squirrel: I am easily distracted by outside noises, but I swear I'm not suicidal as squirrels have a tendency to be. That said, I find music to be a great motivator to do just about anything.

As a perpetual daydreamer, headphones facilitate my fantasies, because there are some songs that transport me to various places. For example, I love music scores which are the orchestral soundtrack pieces you hear in movies. So whenever, I listen to the Narnia soundtrack, I immediately envision myself in the shadow of a cliff where Cair Paravel perches majestically under the brilliant Narnian sun. Sometimes I'll be listening to All Time Low and I'll imagine myself ferociously strumming an electric guitar in front of a energetic mob of people. As you can tell, my daydreams run rampant when I listen to music. So when books don't satisfy my escapist cravings at the moment, I can always immerse myself in music. What better way to block out the rest of the world than through music or better yet, what better way to enhance the world around you? There are times when I can think of song that suits whatever situatin I'm in. For instance, if I could choose one song that could be the background music of my life, I'd choose Rooney's Where Did my Heart Go Missing and my day instantly gets better. Thus headphones are a crucial piece of weaponry in an introvert's arsenal whether it be blocking ourselves from the world or just making it a tiny bit better.

HEADPHONES FOR EVERY INTROVERT

I do not own this photo; image courtesy of Pinterest

The Headphones that scream quirky but in a cute kind of way. These are my kind of headphones. 

I do not own this photo; image courtesy of Pinterest

Classic style of headphones but are quite reminiscent of a rainbow sorbet. Yum! 

I do not own this photo; image courtesy of Pinterest

For those times when introverts want to (*gasp*) interact, what better way for other introverts to interact through introvert-like activities such as listening to music. 

I do not own this photo; image courtesy of Pinterest

And if you really have a fierce disliking for people (but hopefully you don't) then you can put on these babies where not a decibel of "outside sounds" can be heard. 

Spending Time Like an Introvet: Reading

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all liked my last post on music, I'm hoping to make this into a series.  Let me know if you have any thing that you do for fun that I could write about as an introvert.

This time I will be talking about reading.  I love to read.  I wish I had more time to do it, but with homework and school it can be difficult.  Then when I do have free time I'm too tired to do the reading that I want to do.  So you could say that high school has killed my curiosity for finding new worlds. 

Now lets step away from the meldramaticness of that last line, and let me explain how I keep myself reading.  I am a member of the sight called Goodreads.  It is free, you can hook it up to Facebook and Amazon.  You can also set challenges for yourself.  This is what I do.  Each year I try to add a few more books to my amount, and complete it before the time is done.  If you want you can friend me: Amanda LaCorte. 

I also join groups on there.  Those groups recommend books, and have discussions about them.  I have joined groups that read books that I like, so I am always staying interested. 

I love reading and this website has allowed me to stay even more interested in it. Please enjoy!

Love,
Amanda

Spending Time Like an Introvert: Music

Hello everyone,

One of our segments for this blog is going to be called Spending Time Like an Introvert.  This is mostly about different activities that we enjoy doing as our little introverted selves.  So the first one I would like to write about is music and how my music taste has developed.

Now I know that everyone listens to some kind of music, I mean it's one of the main reasons I stay an introvert.  I always have this beautiful and personal thing to fall back on after society hurts me time after time.  My journey has been an interesting, crazy time.  I was thinking back to how much it has changed over the past four years when I started thinking about classics and how they too have changed. 

When we think back to the music our parents listened to it was so amazing.  It has originality and that sound is just.... It will never grow old.  But today's classics are not that way.  Alyssa and I both listen to different types of music, neither of which are the popular music that is played on the radio.  She has a hand in almost every type of music: indie, k-pop, alternative, pop.  I listen to a more exact list: alternative, classic rock, soundtracks, and folk. (I know its odd combination.) Our music won't be thought of when the next generation is old and looking back on what we did.  This make me sad to think that one day my children might look up at me and ask if I listened to Miley Cyrus since I grew up in the 2000s.  So for everyone to not forget that their are other types of music out there, here is the way I came to loving the music I listen to now.

It all started in middle school. Before that all I listened to was Christian music because that what my parents had, and books on tape because I was a weird kid.  But in middle school I grabbed a new taste, or should I say I found someone else's music to listen to.  My best friend was awesome, popular, and everything I wasn't.  We went to a very small school, so it was not really that odd that the most popular girl there and the class nerd hung out every day.  I can say now that I was jealous of her.  She always looked nice, said the right things, and EVERYONE wanted to be around her.  She did her hair and makeup every day, and, well, I didn't.  Maybe I didn't want to be her, but I wanted this likability that she had.  So I changed what I could.  Sure I wasn't about to have straight hair or beautiful skin but I could change what I liked.  I started listening to her music thinking it would make me be just a little more like her.

I should have known that was a waste.  I look back now on my pop phase and know it was such a waste of money, time, and it put such terrible lyrics in my head.  I love my friend, we still talk to this day, but I have since developed my own form of expression. 

She loved Glee.  While I didn't care for the show, I still watched it because she watched it, and I am so thankful I did.  I only watched the first season, because that was all I needed to change me into an independent person.  They played Journey, and I came home one day singing Don't Stop Believin'.  My dad heard me and asked if I liked that song, to which I said yes.  He took me into our living room, and I swear I have been in there a million times and never gone into this cupboard.  But he opened it up and there was about 50 CDs from when he was in high school.  I was hooked.

I started listening to all of the classics.  I still love them, even though my taste has changed the past few years.  I think that main reason why I can still appreciate their sound is because they were the first piece of music that I chose, and no one else told me to like it.  I still find myself jamming to Billy Joel in my car or hearing Elton John come on my phone, and I cant help but stop everything and sing when Journey comes on the radio.  Now I just don't chose them first, I have other tastes that come before they do.

I was still immature though and wanted to be like my friends.  So when I started driving I went back to those terrible radio classics.  Radioactive led me to my alternative side.  I have the entire deluxe Night Visions album by Imagine Dragons and I can not wait till they write some more of that beautiful music.  They led me to experiment more with to what I listened.  Pandora became my friend.  I didn't care if I heard ten terrible songs in a row as long as it led me to one amazing song. I Will Wait was the first time I heard the voice that changed my life.  Long story and many months later I am in love with Mumford & Sons.  I literally had a dream where I met them. 

I was so excited I showed all of my friends this music I had fallen in love with.  They hated it.  Said M&S was too country, or too poppy, or too main stream, or not that well known.  I was heartbroken.  I had changed all of my tastes so I could be like them and they wanted nothing to do with my new love.  So I FINALLY did the right thing, I listened to music because I liked it and did not care what anyone else around me said.  I now have tons of albums: M&S, Of Monsters and Men, Bastille, Florence & the Machines, The Head and the Heart, Radical Face, Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, and so many soundtracks.  It no longer matter to what my friends listened, because I am in love and this music never grows old on me.

So long rant over and I finally get to the point: being an introvert it can be hard not to lose yourself, but keep strong and find who you are before you are lost forever.  I have made so many friends because of this new music, and I have made so many friends that hate my music, but it doesn't matter because I am confident in what I love and just want to share with whomever will listen.  I will be happy if you like my music, but I will be happier if you have never heard it.  I will be thrilled if you share some of yours with me, because humans are not sedentary objects, we are always moving and changing.  I never know when my tastes might just be in the mood for what you have.

Life lesson over.  I hope you enjoyed this.  And now, so I am not a hypocrite, I will share a little bit of my music with you.  Enjoy.  Or don't.  Just be you and I will be happy.

Love,
Amanda

One month

Hello everyone,

Very quick post today; I just wanted to come on and say it has now been one month of this blog.  It all started with a crazy little idea and has grow so much.  Alyssa and I still love writing for you guys, and can not wait to see how far the next eleven months take us.

If you are returning here, thank you for reading our posts.  If this is your first time, please check out all of the other posts to find funny stories, relatable situations, book reviews, and lots of other introvert related information.

Alyssa and I last winter

Love,
Amanda


Due to tedious time constraints, I can't make a lengthy, reflective post like I usually do but then again, I don't think you guys want to read  paragraphs and paragraphs of how much I love sharing my interests on the interwebs nor would you want to read about how much I love collaborating with my best friend Amanda. And how banal would it be for you guys to read about how much I love seeing this blog grow and evolve. Ugh! So many words. That said, thanks for reading! Lifts imaginary goblet in the air, Here's to many more months of all things introverted!

Me and Amanda...in the winter? Spring? 

Lots of Love,
Alyssa

Book Review: The Magicians

I do not own this picture, courtesy of Google Images

Congratulations! You, my dear reader, are reading An Introvert's Guide's first ever book review! Like most, but not all, introverts, I am an avid reader and the most recent book I read was the Magicians by Lev Grossman. I found this lovely paperback at the famous Strand book store in New York. Many reviews compared it to Harry Potter and Narnia, so naturally I was drawn to it. Not to mention it has a pretty magical cover.

The setting takes place in modern day Brooklyn with high school student, Quentin Coldwater, a precocious student applying for Princeton university when suddenly, his college interview lands him at the entrance test of a magical university called Brakebills. So the reviews most definitely hold true with the Narnia and Harry Potter parallels but by no means does it hinder your experience of this book. If anything it enhances it.

WARNING! As this was my first adult fiction book, let me be the first one to tell you that this book is not at all like a YA book so expect adult content (not even the PG-13 kind so read at your own risk).

Indeed it was adult in all senses of the word. One thing I wasn't expecting was the dark themes and in a way Grossman kind of kills our childhood fantasies by subverting our preconception of magic. Magic is described as a craft, it's a skill that takes serious honing and major attention, focus, and detail. It's tedious. “Magic, Quentin discovered, wasn’t romantic at all. It was grim and repetitive and deceptive.” Grossman strips it down to a science of sorts, but what I liked about Quentin was that he still earnestly believed in magic, seeing it as something more.

 However; here's where the dark stuff comes in because inevitably Quentin does become jaded, tainted with the "lack-of-purpose" conundrum that evidently many magicians succumb to. With all the magic at your fingertips, you can have anything! So what more do you have to achieve? What purpose could you serve? It was these weary pages of Quentin's inner conflict and turmoil in the plot that made me rather depressed. And when Quentin does find the one thing he desires, he's still not happy. So, the last remaining half of the novel is simply tragic but I have to admit that that was my favorite part. Why? Well, why does anyone like tragedy? I would say the irony of it all. Specifically to the book, it highlights the whole theme of desire and how you can't chase your childhood fantasies. As cliche as it seems, I feel like Quentin just needed to be happy with what he had and maybe he could have avoided the whole angst-y drama bit. But then again, if that were the case the plot would be nonexistent.

On a more technical note, Grossman's writing is neither too detailed or too sparse, so I really got a good feel of the world he was trying to create. The tone felt somber at times but mystical what with all the magical elements. However the plot movement dragged a bit towards the middle for me, and it was during those were the parts were I hated Quentin the most,  but I liked him best towards the end. Alice, his love interest, was probably the best character in the whole book, and I most definitely loved her more than Quentin. She was more intuitive and she, unlike poor Quentin, was never corrupted by magic.

I do not own this picture, courtesy of Google Images

So, when I think of fantasy, my expecation consist of furry fauns and the occasional unicorn (because why not?) but I like how it was juxtaposed against the (sometimes blatant) Narnia and Harry Potter references, because it just made the dark themes that much darker. As morbid as it sounds, I liked how Grossman pretty much killed the childhood fantasy of going to a magical school and escaping reality, because even that can be flawed. I felt like it was an important stepping stone for Quentin to undergo suffering in order to grow (hopefully, as there is a sequel) and it really reinforced the themes of the novel which I really appreciated. Plus there were some aspects of Quentin that I could relate to as well. As sad as it sounds, even I know that I will have to grow up and that I can't always daydream of a Narnia to escape to. That said, I thought it was a good book for me to dip my toes in adult fiction realm, because it did incorporate the fantasy world I was familiar with yet it mostly definitely shook it up.

I Give It: 7 out of 10 

Lots of Love,
Alyssa
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Thoughts About the Book
(with Spoilers below)

• Loved Quentin and Eliot's friendship
• Eliot's letter was one my favorite parts
• I like the image of Quentin towards the end with the Albert Einstein hair and the wooden arms and legs, which kind of symbolizes how hollow in the aftermath of the tragedy. 
• Liked how Grossman incorporated Philip Chatwin as the corrupted beast in the end as the cautionary tale 
• I was definitely shocked by Amanda Orloff's death. The end of that chapter actually made me gasp out loud.
• Loved Alice because she was probably the best character in the whole book and she's too good for Quentin, I will miss her dearly. 
• Least Favorite Character(s): Penny and Janet 
• What happened to Julia!? (And then I found out that there was a sequel so...)

An Introvert's Best Friend

My lovely friends,

Life can be so funny sometimes....

Now that that's said, please enjoy my misery. I have learned the only way to get through hard times is laughter, so join in with me laughing at myself.

My favorite part of being an introvert is the silence.  Sometimes, I would take a bath just so I could stick my head under the water and have it even quieter for a few seconds than it already was in my empty house. When I started driving it was such a blessing.  Silence.  Or even if not silence, I could chose the noise to which I listened. 

A few months after I started driving by myself Alyssa started carpooling with me (hear more of that story at getting back to school/Sherlock). While I love her and the memories we made, I really missed the silence.

This year we are no longer carpooling. Congrats to Alyssa for being able to drive finally! So today was the third day of school, the third day of silence.  I got in my car this morning to go to school, and my silence was broken.  Coming from my AC vent, like an old VHS player rewinding, was a high pitch screech.  I was terrified. I shut my car off, and it stopped.  I turned it back on, and it started.

Fortunately I live in Florida, land of the morning sunshine and breezes....

I turned my AC off and rolled my windows down.  This was not a bad option on the way to school, with temperatures in the  80s and the sun just coming up.  But as I walked out to my car at 2:13 to leave, I prayed that terrible cat squeal would stop. 

It didn't. 

Unfortunately I live in Florida, land of the afternoon sun strokes and practically under water humidity.....

I now had a terrible choice to make: live without AC and sweat to death or live with that noise.  I rolled my windows down and tried to enjoy the silences.

I wish it ended there. But as I was leaving the parking lot I remembered that I needed a few more school supplies.  A few left turns later and my curly, frizzy hair looked like a cactus.  Staples was very nice with its cold AC but the people need to work on the staring at my messy hair.  

As I reentered the car, I had the fleeting memory of how nice the inside of the store felt.  But silence was still my best friend, choosing it would always be my first response.  I checked my phone.  94 degrees with 60% humidity.  I will just have to drive fast.

To wrap up this interesting story, I got home with a red face, enormous hair, and a new concept of what a best friend is.  As I sat in the freezer I realized that sometimes we must give up small things we love to stay alive. That reminds me the Bee Gees played while I was driving home; at least I listened to their advice!

Love,
Amanda