Fangirl Fridays: Rory Gilmore

GIf taken from Tumblr; I do not own this image.

If any of you readers have Netflix then I hope you're aware that Gilmore Girls is now on Instant watch. I repeat: GILMORE GIRLS IS ON NETFLIX. And if you do have Netflix and you don't know what Gilmore Girls is then...*gasp!* You are missing out! But I say all this because it brought attention to a fictional character that is the epitome of all things introverted: Rory Gilmore. Let's break it down...


For one thing, she is a bookworm. I won't try to generalize introverts as avid bookworms but we'd be lying to ourselves if we didn't admit that a good majority of us are. Rory can be seen with a nose in her book throughout the whole series and she is incredibly quick-witted with literary references that could make an English professor go nuts! It's so admirable, I feel inadequate with my reading list.
Although Rory is shy, you can definitely see how genuine but also how passionate she is. She is most certainly not afraid to speak her mind when it counts most, and it's one of the main reasons why I love her.

There was one episode where her mother, Lorelai, was out of town and she had the whole house to herself. She thus, passes up a night with her boyfriend Dean (Jared Paledki pre-Supernatural)because she wants time to herself. She would much rather order Indian food, wear her pjs, and do her laundry while watching movies instead of spending time with her boyfriend! This, my friends, deserves applause. Not to mention, Rory also spends her lunch listening to music and reading books, and as a child who would habitually bring books to restaurants, I want to commend Rory's character for justifying my weird tendencies.

GIf taken from Tumblr; I do not own this image.

However; what I appreciate about Rory is that she is unlike most teenage TV protagonists in that her character is genuinely relatable to ta good majority of the girl population. I would think that most girls don't party every weekend, nor do we spend our high school career trying to find a boyfriend. While she does undergo several relationship mishaps, ultimately, the story brings it back to how those relationships, romantic or otherwise, help develop Rory's character. Rory is academically driven, extremely responsible, and lovably quirky. Maybe's it's because she is one of the first of her kind, but this "nerdy" character of hers does not seem contrived because the show depicts, more or less, an accurate depiction of a real girl. Sure, Rory is "nerdy" but she is not pigeonholed to that stereotype because they show the complexities of her character like when she has mental breakdowns in the middle of her history class or how she likes to participate in quirky town traditions that require her to dress like a pilgrim. Upon watching the first season, I had this image of how Rory's character was going to play out, but I was surprised at how outgoing she could be at times, and for that, I greatly admired Rory's character.

 That's not even the best part. Rory Gilmore is a not a character to be pitied; rather, she's not afraid to lay down the sass when confronting the mean girls and as far as characters go, she stays grounded and true to her character when boys or snobby private school girls enter the picture. She sure is one heck of a fictional character. Now if you exuse me, I'm going to binge watch Gilmore girls in all its heartfelt, witty banter-ness! 

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