NEW FEATURE!

So at the Mountain School (sorry, can't help it!) there was a beautiful soul named Anika who had the most contagious vocabulary. The most popular one was "Yikes!" and the most striking (at first) and heartwarming was her way of replacing the word "hand" with "paw." It makes sense since she's really into cats, and there such a cool story behind that that I think most people don't know.

The point of that was to introduce something new to this blog that will help me be able to put up more and shorter posts on the days when I don't really feel compelled to write about anything specific. Um, time management may also have an influence on how compelled I am...

Anyways! As I'm sure many of us do, I write on the back of my hand a lot because sometimes there's just no time to get out something to write on! It may sound like I'm mocking, but I'm not; I feel you. My left hand (since I'm right handed) is always filled with these random words that have a much larger meaning, interest, or task attached to them. Either that, or it has the left-over smudges.

And a lot of the times when I'm writing on the back of my hand, I'm thinking, "lalalalaaaa, just writing on my paw.." haha This is such a long explanation for something so simple.

What I want to do is have Paw Posts where I just take a look at what I've written on my "paw" for the day, post the words up, and then maybe give explanations behind them. This won't be everyday since I don't record on my hands everyday, but it will happen pretty often. I can imagine it being entertaining sometimes, but mostly be reflection of what's of my mind/ how my day went.

And so I'll start today!

SAT :This one is boring and predictable. I have to make a meeting with my college counselor to send SAT scores to my schools. woot.

[I just realized that this will be so helpful to my memory. Nice!]

existentialism :my nerdy side. This came up in Spanish today, and I know we studied it a little when we read The Stranger sophomore year, but I forgot. So I want to look it up again, yup.

explore

crayola :These are just some ideas for a potential supplement that asks about a time when I just had fun. "Explore" refers to how one of my closest friends and I spent a lot of summer nights just walking around the hood. One time we went up to Fort Tryon Park and heard someone who sounded just like Lady Gaga singing a Lady Gaga song. We were like, "Oh snap! That could be Lady Gaga!" but we couldn't see because there was some intense bushery and treeness (<-- straight out of the Yomalis Dictionary) between us and the Lady Gaga voice. We had to find a way to get to this place, so we went through some twists and turns while discussing whether or not its possible that Lady Gaga was there, and found the cafe/ restaurant in the park where they were hosting a party in what I'll call their really concealed and Troy-like backyard. We couldn't see anything, but we knew very well that it wasn't some sort of Lady Gaga concert (no, I don't know what we were thinking) because the next song that played was just not Lady Gaga anymore. Then, we went down a path we didn't recognize on purpose so that we could get lost and ended up walking through some crazy darkness. I mean, the spot needed some lamps up or something because we were a little freaked out. We reached the end of it, but before returning to light, we just had to look down a creepy stone stairway to find a dark figure at the bottom and ran out dramatically. SO FUN..and an anecdote that went on for too long. Therefore, I won't be explaining "crayola" but its not much anyways.

And that, my friends, was the first Paw Post. Tell if you (dis)like. 

I have something cool to write about for tomorrow!

Thanksgiving "Break"

This is a photo of a random page in my planner taken in August. I remember I was at work and I was just trying out the "Documents" scene mode on the new cam. I found this just now, looking through my photos because I'm submitting a few to Impressions (you should, too!) and I find the college-focused intensity funny because school hadn't even started. And even though the focus is different now (applications), this is the kind of thing I had at the back of mind all throughout this break. But supplements will be done by tomorrow! I can't wait to feel the relief.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE BREAK AND A GREAT THANKSGIVING!

p.s.- I was listening to my Pandora Radio and a song came on. I didn't check what it was, but the chorus said "Snow day.." and I immediately thought of Riverdale. So I'm thinking it needs to get colder.. haha

Short Week

First: Jacob, you're the best for always making sure that I stay on my commitment to posting on this blog regularly. It's hard, but you remind me that people actually read and care about it, which makes me more excited to post.  ;)

My Monday morning started about pretty crazy. Chelsea, Dale, and I worked on our video for Physics which was hilarious to record. For this class, we just did the editing and cut out our laughter throughout the rest of the video.
Then, I found out that Leo, a new French teacher at Mountain School who I had met while he was interviewing for the job, was in the AV Room, ready to give a presentation about Mountain School. Becky had a master plan to act like she knew him (by knowing random info, like his birthday is next week), so I said greeted him excitedly and then ran to the theater to find Becky. It turns out that Becky's Senior Speech was during this grade meeting, so I had to run back to the AV Room to show some TMS support and tell the Juniors that they should feel free to ask me any questions, and then ran back to the theater because I couldn't miss Becky's speech.

Now, Senior Speeches. It was my first time hearing them (everyone else's second time) and it was so real and touching. It's interesting because they were real in different ways. Becky's speech on beauty (I caught the second half) addressed some things that I know I always think about but never really talk about. It was a pretty brave and very well-articulated topic, in my opinion. Katie's read her speech off of a hand-written formerly folded-up piece of paper and started by telling us how she had no idea it was her day to give the speech until very recently. It gave us so many different sides of her by describing her summer: Botswana, living in an apartment in Italy on little money, and a conversation with her girlfriend. She wrapped it all up by talking about her brother, and it just worked. I wasn't sure where her speech was going, but it didn't really matter. ALL of it was her speech, her words, and ALL of it had something special to say about her. I had to give her a hug when I saw her after. Also, the majority of the seniors I spoke to on Monday referred to me as "that chick Yomalis" or brought it up in small talk. I don't think it was that big of a deal, BUT IT WAS NICE TO GET A SHOUT-OUT!

I should explain senior speeches. The idea came from Mr. Lapidus to give seniors the opportunity to give a speech to just our grade and invite anyone else who wanted to hear them. So for every grade meeting two seniors give a special speech. I love the idea and I'm signed up for some day in February.. I have to double check that.

And then the rest of my Monday went by pretty slowly... 

College Visits

I spent the weekend visiting a college for the second time this year, and had so much FUN. It's such a tease. I spent the weekend with my friends who I met during a summer program and got to spend some great outdoorsy time, which reminded me of Mountain School. I flew over by myself. I used to have a lot of fun at airports by myself because it makes me feel so grown-up and I can walk around as much as I want. It was like this at first, but while I was eating my sushi I didn't know what to do with myself and felt a tad bit lonely. I tried writing some poetry, but I wasn't feelin' it, and I didn't want to eat with earphones on, so I ended up just sitting and eating. Weird. I didn't have to multi-task, something I'm so used to doing, and what a great start to the weekend. I got to spend a nice hour or so on the plane, not thinking, but having trouble sleeping...always an issue. But it was nice to not worry and the whole weekend continued with this chill-ness. My only job for about two days was to just enjoy and absorb the environment. Most importantly, I got another taste of the peaceful and free place we're all working for. (Please let me praise college; it keeps me motivated.)

The thing is that after these weekends, we pushed right back into high school mode. AHH! Craziness, but I guess I'm getting used to it because today wasn't so bad. Except I kept talking to Lorraine about how I'm dying to leave everything and in a completely new environment with completely new people. Oh, college. :)

And just on that topic, I'm very happy for someone who has already received an acceptance letter. (very subtle shout-out. wink wink) Enjoy the feeling!

Seniors: LET'S GET THOSE SUPPLEMENTS DONE WITHOUT STRESSING TOO MUCH. One thing that helps me get this done is setting aside a very specific time of my day to just get started. I find that the hardest thing is starting, but just go for it! ...I need to get on that.. haha

That is all. Now I shall please you with pictures of a very beautiful place.

This is my very cool and beautiful friend, Grace.

Sorry!

Basketball season started this week, so I'm adjusting to this new schedule...after my Fall season off. It's not really anything negative since I LOVE IT, but it's taking some getting used to.

I've just been slackin'. I keep forgetting to bring my camera to school and I (like so many of us) have so much to stay on top of and lots of college confusion. BUT IT'S OKAY!

Today, was a super beautiful day and I was happy to give a tour during my free and get some fresh air.

Also, I'm pretty sure I'm watching the play tomorrow night. Mostly to see this gal:

haha GO BRONWEN!

Urban Word

I've been going to Urban Word every Thursday after school to write. I can't go anymore since basketball starts next week, but I'm really going to miss it and it has helped me a lot. I have to make myself sit down and write the way I did there, and I'll definitely be going back in the spring, some way some how.

This poem was brought to our attention today.


No Images by William Waring Cuney


She does not know

her beauty,

she thinks her brown body

has no glory.

If she could dance

naked

under palm trees

and see her image in the river,

she would know.

But there are no palm trees

on the street,

and dish water gives back

no images.

Girl

HOLA yesterday was GREAT. So much talent!
Before the school year starts, all 8 affinity group leaders met with Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Vidale, and Ms. Quarshie to start preparing and to get ideas flowing. Ms. Quarshie had us prepare by reading a short story called "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid and write up our own versions. "Girl" is sort of a list of ways that this narrator has been told she had to do, kind of like a set of rules.
For yesterday's activity I was going more for a discussion, but with Carlos' (Co- president with me) encouragement we decided to do this writing exercise with everyone else. In 15 minutes, we either volunteered or nominated people to read their piece. SUCH GOOD STUFF. Some people didn't read, which made me a little sad, but everything we heard was so interesting and really helped us get to know each other. I want us in HOLA to be close and comfortable with each other; I think this definitely helped with that.


I'll see if I can get some peeps to let me put what they wrote on here.


Overall, HOLA makes me so happy and proud.


:)

Last Volleyball Game...

WAS SO GOOD! It was such a close game and the first time Varsity beat Fieldston! The team had great energy and every single girl seemed to be playing her best. Great way to end the season and my stressful week.


Also, I'm always amazed at my girl Chelsea's talent; got me excited for our basketball season together!