Update: Schools out for the rest of the school year.
ლ(¯ロ¯”ლ)
Oh dear god.
Ever since school ended and the “Shelter in Place” order was put out, my time has been consumed by completing work in the morning, and chilling for the rest of the day. “Chilling” meaning binge-watching cooking videos(even though I’m hopeless at cooking)and cleaning my room.
Like, everyday.
Even though it’s always clean.
Hey, I see you judging me. Don’t do that. ｡◕ – ◕｡
Ever since our exceptionally increased time staying indoors(sorry, extroverts), I’ve found myself outdoors longer. Either working with my iPad and keyboard, or just with a cup of tea watching on like a proud general as my siblings wreak havoc into our innocent backyard.
But I’ve also been looking around at the heavy amount of life that surrounds our house.
(And no, I don’t mean the other humans stuffed at home as well. Sorry.)
Birds, squirrels, insects, everything you can imagine that reside in forest-like environments. Everyday is a symphony of chittering birds as golden light filters through the newly sprouting leaves on the trees. Our backyard has become covered with a translucent green canopy that glows with the sun’s touches. Thick puffs of clouds spread across the cobalt sky, so bright that just looking up at the sky distresses your eyes.
But, there are a handful of little critters that seem to be the soul of the natural heartbeat of our backyard.
Blue,
Tomato #1, and Tomato #2.
Oh, and we mustn’t forget The Honorable Sir Peanut.
So, these may sound quite ridiculous. But each name is attached to a creature with a story. Thus the names given are to suit them, and for us to identify our little friends as they come and go through our home as they please.
Lets starts with Blue:
Blue:
Species: Bird
Type: Blue Jay
Likes: Peanuts; terrorizing smaller birds
Dislikes: Squirrels
Story behind the name: I think it’s quite obvious why “Blue” seemed to be fitting for this particular bird. My dad shall take credit for this highly creative name.
Tomato #1 and #Tomato 2
Species: Squirrel
Like: Peanuts, bird seeds, gymnastics
Dislikes: Birds
Story behind the name(s): When we realized these two squirrels had taken a liking to our backyard(and the tons of food and shelter provided)my brother took it up to himself to name these two. I don’t quite understand why tomatoes seemed to be fitting for two squirrels. But I can’t really argue with a stubborn 8 year-old boy.
The Honorable Sir Peanut
Species: Caterpillar?
Likes: Unknown
Dislikes: Unknown
Story behind the name: So, a few days back, my brother and I were out on the deck admiring the rain when we saw a little green blob floating right in front of our eyes like magic. Stupefied and curious, we wondered how the little thing could be floating with absolutely nothing supporting it. So out of spite, I hazardously stuck out my hand so it was aligned a foot above the gravity-defying caterpillar. My hand was laid out horizontally in a ninja-like position. And just like a ninja, I chopped my hand in front of the air above the caterpillar. To my shock, the caterpillar disappeared. Most likely pulled along with whatever invisible force(or spider web)that it was attached to. Therefore I did the most logical thing and screamed bloody murder out of panic. I checked all over my clothes and hair for any sign of a little green glob crawling on me. I was still a little shaken even when I found no signs of it finding home in the folds of my jacket. However, I felt bad about how the whole situation turned out. Therefore I gave him the name, The Honorable Sir Peanut, because he is honored for not fighting me and my stupidity. And Peanut, because he was small and cute. Like a peanut. May you live honorably, wherever you are.
Blue and the Tomato Twins(I have no idea if they’re actually related)are always fighting in the spring and summer time. The squirrels are always stretching in unfathomable positions to get bird-seed out of the bird feeders. While simultaneously scaring away smaller birds from that specific bird feeder.
Blue is an angry one who swoops down gracefully before deciding to terrorize the birds who are a bit smaller then him. But they’re a sucker for peanuts and on multiple occasions, wandered into our house searching for peanuts. And sometimes, my dad would lure Blue with a trail of peanuts through the kitchen doorway.
The other animals that come by are snakes(garden snakes not, like, anacondas)my dad found them one day in our side yard, and freed them. Those poor little babies were probably alone and split form their mother. So I was happy that they were with their mother.
There are also little mice who crawl in the corners, crows that seat themselves on the telephone poles, and two pigeons who make it a point to fly as close to me as possible before launching themselves a hairsbreadth away from my head before flying away. But we’ve seen those two pigeons since our days in the apartment complex we used to live in. So it’s kinda like looking at our past before moving into this house. There is also a slick, black, service cat(a cat that comes to your neighborhood to catch and eat mice. Frightening, I know).
The cat comes by every so often to our deck, well, more like under our deck, looking for mice to eat for its next meal. I’ve tried each time to create a connection with it because I love dogs and cats. But this particular cat seems to have a liking to sashay away the moment I turn to greet it. And when it does turn around, it’s emerald green eyes stare into my soul like it’s judging me for coming outside wearing my leggings inside out. Then it swishes it’s tail and turns away. Leaving me wondering if I’ve unknowingly waged a war against all felines.
To be honest, without these creatures wreaking absolute mayhem across our backyard, our home wouldn’t be home. Sure family and friends can make a place be a home. But the little things outside our homes can be just as welcomed as the ones inside. So treat everything with respect, even it can sometimes be irritating. They have just the same amount of will to live as you do. They have every right to live on the same land you do. They are not inferior to the human race and should never be put into any category before our own species.
Our world is going through some difficult times right now, and my last post circulated around the Coronavirus pandemic, but I think I’ve fed you enough of my perspective of it. This half of the post is dedicated to just little things that can help you get through our prolonged stay at home and social-distancing. I know I did this last time, but those were particular apps that cultivated my needs and interests. The difference here is that I will be recommending things that can apply to a vast amount of people and not just myself.
I will try to do something each month on this blog. So today’s would be something like “April Favorites.” I’ll try to do this at least every month.
(NONE OF THIS IS SPONSORED ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE RESPECTFUL OWNERS OF THE FOLLOWING ARCHIVES/LABELS/NAMES)
Apps
Tide – Tide is a mindfulness app that is very helpful for productivity, meditation, and sleep. It provides nature sounds for sleep or work. This app also uses the “Pomodoro” method. A timer will be set, and for a specific amount of time you will work, but then once that timer is over, you will take a break for another chunk of time before working again. Personally, I like this method because you can work very well without getting overworked.
Quizlet – This is an app that can be used by students and teachers alike. You can create quizzes, flashcards, lessons, etc. Based on whatever it is that you need to study, or need to teach your students. This is extremely helpful if you are a visual or verbal learner. Because you can listen/see the comprehension.
Notability – I mentioned this app in my last post but I’ll go into a bit more depth this time. This is quite possibly the best note-taking app I’ve ever used so far. It has a simple interface, but is packed with extremely useful features. For example, you can take audio recordings if you’re in a lecture or meeting. Then you can play back the audio and take notes or touch them up with added detail. I highly recommend this for everyone, but especially students. This has helped me so much for nearly all of my classes.
Khan Academy – This is extremely useful if you need extra help practicing something, but you’re struggling academically. Or if you learn something better if someone is teaching it to you. You can search anything in Math, Science, English, History, whatever, and it’ll pop up with so many lessons, videos, and activities to help you with it. This isn’t just an app, but also a website online.
Epic! – This is also an app/website, and is great if you have little ones at home. They provide a full selection of popular books for children, with audios as well. Along with a wide array learning videos.
Movies
I tried to do a selection of different genres so you can find the stuff you like.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
The Darkest Minds
Gravity
Interstellar
Cinderella(Disney Live Action)
Aladdin(Disney Live Action)
Mulan(My favorite movie. I just had to put it in)
Avengers(Just watch all of them, there’s no shame)
Harry Potter(But please read the book first)
Anime
Yuri On Ice – This is an anime about a male Japanese figure skater who is the ace of his country. But finds himself in a long slump when he takes a very low place in a major global competition. Finally, he finds himself wanting to skate again, and love it again. This is a beautiful story with equally gorgeous animation. The music is also incredibly well thought out. This anime has major character development that I admired even before finishing the series.
Free! – Free! Is about an extremely talented swimmer who takes on finding his place in competitive swimming again, overcoming darkness in his past, and renewing his love for competing with his friends beside him in the pool lanes. This anime has such an amazing plot and story line, character development is subtle yet so spot on, and the exquisite animation and stylistics just makes me wanna cry. As a former swimmer, I found myself being reacquainted with the pool environment, and the zing of being in a competitive space. This anime has a stunning story and a very deep story that embraces the mental aspects that come to being pressured when you’re especially good at something.
Gakuen Babysitters – This anime is super cute and fluffy. About a Ryuichi and his baby brother who live with the dean of a a very high end school after there parents pass away in an accident. This anime follows the days of Ryuichi as he works as a babysitter in the school for the children of teachers who work on his campus.
Pokémon – C’mon, you can’t go wrong with Pokémon.
I hope this can give some of you a bit of comfort and something to look forward to when you wake up and are ready to start the day. This is definitely a time where we need to support each other. And words are so powerful right now so please, show your love to those you care about and keep them in your mind in this time when touch is so dangerous. But also take this time to self reflect and care for yourself. We need to keep our physical bodies healthy, but never forget that your emotions are just as important as your heartbeat.
A lot of the time, I lay awake in the middle of the night thinking.
Overthinking really.
Everyone else in the house will be asleep, occupied with their own dreams. My own thoughts keeping me company. The light in the hallway would pool into the doorway of my bedroom, though it stayed languid. Eventually I would fall asleep but only for a couple hours until it’s early into the morning. I’d say around four, or even six am at the very least. I don’t exactly understand why my body does this, nor if my current age and sleeping times are the exact cause of this consuetude. I would usually go back to sleep and wake up much later into the day. Cause’ the odds of me waking up early is very low.
The gaps between me and sleep are usually filled with peculiar thoughts about the future, my art, or something completely out of the ordinary and just weird as heck. I mean, what do you except from a girl who is half asleep, completely alone, and thinks senselessly way too much. Let alone a girl who is me. Sure, I end up pondering a lot of things all at once. But one thought always stays in the back of my mind, surfacing at miscellaneous moments that usually lead to a longer endeavor of thought. And those thoughts circulate around each other like a swarm of mosquitoes or wasps. And that is;
One’s past life.
*dunH duNH DUNH
(O . o)
SO SPOOKY.
Reincarnation was a process I came to truly learn last year. After reading various books in which my history teacher supplied due to our lessons mostly rotating around the history and philosophy of Buddhism, at the time.
According to various texts, reincarnation or rebirth is the philosophy in which a living being, after death, takes on a new form, in a new life. Their physical body itself can take on the form of any living animate object. For example a human being, or a creature of the wild.
I feel that reincarnation has a direct connection to the doctrine of past lives; thought same may disagree that it’s an outlandish reverie based of off convictional metaphysics. Some may fancy the idea of having lived multiple lives under different personas in times before their current state.
Me, well. I guess I’m a little bit of both. I like hard-core facts, scientific reasoning, you know to make it all the more true. But I also relish some good mythology and allegorical stories. And what do you get when you put the two together?
YOU GET BAM.
A MESS.
YEAH.
The theory of past lives are sought out by many people seeking different explanations. But if you think about it, the philosophy behind rebirth takes a different turn on everyone. Depending on who you talk to, these can be based of religion, or just good ol’ belief.
For a while, ever since it had been released I’d been wanting to get the book Becoming, a memoir written by Michelle Obama and originally published in November. And while going through the book, I thought back to my night time pondering and the little past lives shebang. Reading about the life of Michelle Obama, it felt like she was living multiple different lives. But as the same person, though her soul was evolving just as her body. She was the same person going through completely different scenarios she never dreamed she would go through. A more mental form of bodily revival, rather than the said theory of reincarnation.
The main reason why I wanted this book was because she’s such an inspiration to all women out there. A fighter at heart with a burning fire and encouraging us females to never, ever, let ours die out. In my mind, she is one of the countless women who has revolutionized the way we see our own dreams and goals. I’ve read one or two of her husband’s books before, and plenty of books circulating around his eight years in office. As commander in chief, and so on. But it’s even better to read from the perspective of the person who is experiencing everything her husband does. But feeling emotions you won’t be able to read when they take the podium and give a speech, emotions you won’t be able to feel even when you’re watching them live. Just like millions of other people in the country.
Writing and books are probably the closest thing to magic we’ll ever have. Each one can hold and entire universe so unlike your own, and yet still be right at your fingertips. Books can give you an intimate tour of someone else’s life itself. So instead of standing up in front of a bunch of cameras and mikes, and a teleprompter in their face; people can just sit down at home and write their entire life story as a narrative for the world.
This era of women have broken down barriers that were held against them because of gender, and or by race(s). And in my opinion, these are only a handful of thousands out there who did just that.
Michelle O b a m a
Emma W a t s o n
Amanda L o v e l a c e
Maya A n g e l o u
Ellen D e G e n e r e s
Lupita N y o n g ‘ o
Malala Y o u s a f z a i
Oprah W i n f r e y
J.K. R o w l i n g
Alexandria O c a s i o-C o r t e z
And can we just take a second to just appreciate the absolute brilliance of all of these women? And not only women; just human beings in general. I mean teachers, scientists, firefighters, policemen, men and women serving in the army. And just the people who have been so crucial in building the foundations of not only this nation, but all around the world.
Now here’s a little background on how I actually got my hands on a copy of Becoming. Or rather, how the book managed to find it’s way towards yours truly(aka ME).
My parents got me a copy for Christmas.
It was really simple, not a complicated affair of course. My parents have just accepted the fact that I would take a book over anything. Including food and basic hydration. Courtesy to the stack of books that always end up in my grasp at the dinner table. And then a thorough scolding afterwards. If you don’t believe me just picture me hiding out in my bedroom cuddling in a bundle on my couch near the window and reading with no other light except for a simple lamp to my right side. A steaming mug of tea and earbuds in my ears with music washing over me through my phone. Sketchbook always beside me in the constant scenario in which an idea will spark from my brain to my hands. Happens everyday and takes up the gap of time between almost every meal or homework session.
*Cue another meticulous scolding from my parents.
It’s quite hilarious after a while and even my parents get a good laugh out of it.
Anyway, Christmas morning, I woke up to the sounds of my little brother bounding from his bedroom to mine and whispering with a light in his eyes;
I swear I would’ve been convinced my kid brother was a snake whisperer if I hadn’t fully opened my eyes and stumbled out of bed; just in time to see him leap military style into my parent’s room and proceed to clamber on top of them in his ecstatic state of happiness. Letting the same message he delivered vocally to me and then to my parents. Which led to a series of irritated groans and choking sounds from my dad. And a tired nod and smile from my mom.
The whole process to get my parents up and out of bed on Christmas morning is something that all of us kids dreaded. Nice to see gifts under a decked out tree with my name on them. Everyone’s happy and candy everywhere! Who wouldn’t be absolutely ecstatic to see that!?
Well my parents apparently!
(It took at least a half hour to get them up and out of bed, which is less than what it usually takes mind you.)
Anyway, I got various presents that I liked, but one of my favorites was definitely the brand new hardcover copy of Becoming. With a nice baby blue background and Michelle Obama beaming in the cover. As my siblings opened the rest of their presents, I started pouring of the pages of the book and refused to put the book down for a few days afterwards.
Michelle Obama didn’t want to just be the wife of a politician with a large title. Always smiling, living a life that gave her a direct title right above her head. No, she had plans of her own that she wanted to set forth. To get her own podium and stand on it. Say what’s on her mind and let it set forth.
If the possibility of her husband becoming president was close of course. Michelle Obama revolutionized the persona of the FLOTUS(First Lady of the United States) role. She shattered the mold of a smiling, loyal spouse that only spoke when told to. She smiled when she wanted to, she spoke when she wanted to. She wasn’t just the First Lady; she was a respected women who had power and used it graciously. Using her voice with intense purpose that defied the behavioral aspects of past First Ladies.
And throughout the book she uses a style of writing that doesn’t sound regal or formal. She writes as if we’re talking over some lemonade in a nice little cafe or something. Like good friends just having a seat under the sun.
Being born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, a place in which one(at the time)would never expect a graduate of Princeton and Harvard to be brought up. Gender and race was a massive spectacle in her life. Especially since she was African American, and a women. She gives a firsthand look into her life as she grew up. Showing the ambitions and everyday occurrences of her life in a neighborhood populated mostly by African American citizens.
Her family lived in the second floor of a brick bungalow. The house itself being owned by her great-aunt and her husband. Her great aunt being a piano teacher; the constant plinks and plunks of the piano keys would be a musical constant in the afternoons. A normalcy in the life of young Michelle LaVaughn Robinson; dubbed “Mich” by her family. Her father worked for the city, working with boilers in a water filtration plant. Her mother stayed at home with Michelle, and Craig, her brother. Her father suffered from multiple sclerosis. A disease in which the immune system eats away at protective coverings on the nerves. Though, I don’t think suffered is the best way to put it.
Like most parents/guardians out there, Fraser and Marian Robinson both made sacrifices, pouring their whole being towards their children and making sure to raise them to be a set of decent human beings to inhabit the busy workplace of adult life. Michelle’s father rarely said anything. If he was feeling pain, he most certainly wouldn’t show it.
Michelle and Craig were both extremely close, growing up, they shared a bedroom, which was basically their living room but with a partition for privacy. Reading of this sibling relationship, it honestly reminded me of my own.
Of course my siblings and I have a more rigorous interrelation.
I’ve come to realize that no matter where you’re from, sibling relationships are all almost the same. Disagreements, backstabbery, getting questioning looks from parents, teaming up in certain moments against a duo of power(aka our parents)sticking up for each other etc. Just one glance and we suddenly have this homologous kinda thing going on in our minds. Thinking in a kind of silent understanding.
Now when my parents read this their gonna be like Ha, silent understanding my face. But seriously when my brother makes something and ends up showing me, or is geeking out over someone television show, he’ll obviously look to my opinion. And one of two things will happen;
“Oh my gosh that’s so(insert melodramatic adjective)!”
or
“Lol noob!”
Either way, both statements are the sibling equivalent of I love you; in any case really. It’s like the secret code of not losing our dignity. But hey all siblings out there are Birthright Besties y’all.
Michelle Robinson in front of her father’s Buick Electra
I would say that Michelle and Craig Robinson had a relationship similar to that. Just less. . .
Morbid.
Their parents trusting them to the point where there was no need to fight. But there would be occasional verbal brawls here and there. Especially at stages of distress. But Mrs. Obama made it clear that she had a childhood that was simple and golden, leading up to the happy memories that kept her going when she was down as she grew up.
In that portion, it kinda gave me a sense that she didn’t want her life to be singled out just because she was the First Lady. I knew there were going to be other signs similar to that one. Possibly for multiple reasons. And it can be interpreted differently. But I like the way she inadvertently emphasized the fact that her life wasn’t like the ones of the previous wives of the president. And not just because she was a African American women.
With leading figures, every movement, word spoken, any basic action; can be taken extremely seriously. With her writing style, she emphasized the fact that she was just as human as anyone else. That her and her husband’s lives shouldn’t be written with bold and italicized. That every simple obscenity shouldn’t be taken as a massive scandal sweeping the internet like an unruly riptide. Of course that seems almost impossible in the dawn of technological advancements and sensitive minds.
One thing I found a little interesting was, the fact that Michelle wanted absolutely nothing to do with the mess that was politics. But instead she would admire the men and women she would see walking the sidewalks in their blazers and suits, walking briskly and carrying themselves with purpose. And Michelle was ambiguous about this as well. To carry herself with the same look of purpose. But what I also learned was that she was a good student and always tried hard, but there would be moments where her grades could be slightly saddening. And I can agree wholeheartedly on that. And ironically, one of my favorite lines that she said(not in the book though, sorry). Is:
“If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn’t be here. I guarantee you that.”
And I can agree on that too. I mean look at Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Gandhi, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Gates. Some dropping out of school, some fighting to protect their country or their rights. Now look at what impact they’ve had on the world! Mickey Mouse now embodies the happiness of children and adults alike, look at any piece of tech in your house and look at the ground breaking changes between the twenty and twenty-first century. You a history nerd? Well the name Alexander Hamilton should be more familiar. Michelle Obama has gone through some hardships of her own, but that never stopped her from being ambitious and setting goals for herself to reach. Especially in school.
While her study in Harvard she was an associate attorney at Sidley & Austin in Chicago. And oh man, this love story I’m about to tell you is literally going to knock you off your feet.
She hated him.
Okay, maybe hate is a strong word.
I think a more suitable adjective would be unimpressed.
Michelle first met Barack Obama when he was taking a position over the summer in the law firm she worked at. And her first impression of the dude was a geek with a massive smile. And cute in a skeptical kinda way. I mean c’mon, a girl’s gotta have her standards. Michelle even attempted to get Barack together with some of her friends. But like most unlikely loves, romance just refused to leave Michelle Robinson without a fight.
Michelle thought he had a peculiar name, he was laid back, maybe even too laid back if you will. He was late to his first interview, and his most casual outfit for an outing( see what I did there?)looked and I quote, “directly out of the closet of Miami Vice.” But as most romances go, they slowly grew closer and enjoyed the minor qualities each one had. But one of my favorite parts in this portion of the book was when Michelle was up late at night with a skeptical looking Barack.
He looked vaguely troubled, as if he were pondering something deeply personal. Was it our relationship? The loss of his father?
“Hey, what’re you thinking about over there?” I whispered.
He turned to look at me, his smile a little sheepish. “Oh,” he said. “I was just thinking about income inequality.”
Income inequality.
INCOME INEQUALITY.
I’ve said some pretty odd things when I’m sleep deprived, *cough*overseas travel*cough*. But it never went to the point where I was having a mental existential crisis.
But it also goes to show just how far their relationship went. I mean look at this adorable picture:
And you could tell just from the looks on their faces. Those are looks of sweet satisfaction from gaining someone in the world to balance you when you’re in a dark state of mind. For example, when Michelle was coping with the death of her father. Or when Barack needed someone to turn to when he was politically stressed out.
And do you know what else this metaphor reminds me of?
Weeble Wobbles.
I remember seeing television commercials of these things when I was a kid. They were these little egg thingies that could literally-NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY-get knocked over. I used to play with them in my kindergarten classroom too. And while everyone else found it absolutely hilarious when they would just wobble around, I would be furiously trying to press them down hard enough so they wouldn’t just teeter back up again. Just thinking about the trauma of that gives me a migraine.
*shudder*
Anyway, the only reason they reminded me of Michelle and Barack is they didn’t always have a steady relationship, they could always depend on each other. Morale of the story is,
Find someone to be the weeble to your wobble.
That is the end of my TED Talk.
Here’s a short excerpt from Becoming, in which Michelle circulates in the early stages of her marriage with Barack.
“It sounds a little like a bad joke, doesn’t it? What happens when a solitude-loving individualist marries an outgoing family woman who does not love solitude one bit?
The answer, I’m guessing, is probably the best and most sustaining answer to nearly every question arising inside a marriage, no matter who you are or what the issue is: you find ways to adapt. If you’re in it for ever, there’s really no choice.
Which is to say that at the start of 1993, Barack flew to Bali and spent about five weeks living alone with his thoughts while working on a draft of his book Dreams from My Father, filling yellow legal pads with his fastidious handwriting, distilling his ideas during languid daily walks amid the coconut palms and lapping tide. I, meanwhile, stayed home on Euclid Avenue, living upstairs from my mother, Marian, as another leaden Chicago winter descended, shellacking the trees and sidewalks with ice. I kept myself busy, seeing friends and hitting workout classes in the evenings. In my regular interactions at work or around town, I’d find myself casually uttering this strange new term – “my husband”. My husband and I are hoping to buy a home. My husband is a writer finishing a book. It was foreign and delightful and conjured memories of a man who simply wasn’t there. I missed Barack terribly, but I rationalized our situation as I could, understanding that even if we were newlyweds, this interlude was probably for the best
He had taken the chaos of his unfinished book and shipped himself out to do battle with it. Possibly this was out of kindness to me, a bid to keep the chaos out of my view. I’d married an outside-the-box thinker, I had to remind myself. He was handling his business in what struck him as the most sensible and efficient manner, even if outwardly it appeared to be a beach vacation – a honeymoon with himself (I couldn’t help but think in my lonelier moments) to follow his honeymoon with me.
You and I, you and I, you and I. We were learning to adapt, to knit ourselves into a solid and for ever form of us. Even if we were the same two people we’d always been, the same couple we’d been for years, we now had new labels, a second set of identities to wrangle. He was my husband. I was his wife. We’d stood up at church and said it out loud, to each other and to the world. It did feel as if we owed each other new things.
For many women, including myself, “wife” can feel like a loaded word. It carries a history. If you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s as I did, wives seemed to be a genus of white women who lived inside television sitcoms – cheery, coiffed, corseted. They stayed at home, fussed over the children, and had dinner ready on the stove. They sometimes got into the sherry or flirted with the vacuum-cleaner salesman, but the excitement seemed to end there.
Personally, as a kid, I preferred The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which I absorbed with fascination. Mary had a job, a snappy wardrobe, and really great hair. She was independent and funny, and unlike those of the other ladies on TV, her problems were interesting. She had conversations that weren’t about children or homemaking. She didn’t let Lou Grant boss her around, and she wasn’t fixated on finding a husband. She was youthful and at the same time grown-up. In the pre- pre- pre-internet landscape, when the world came packaged almost exclusively through three channels of network TV, this stuff mattered. If you were a girl with a brain and a dawning sense that you wanted to grow into something more than a wife,
And here I was now, 29 years old, sitting in the very same apartment where I’d watched all that TV and consumed all those meals dished up by the patient and selfless Marian Robinson. I had so much – an education, a healthy sense of self, a deep arsenal of ambition – and I was wise enough to credit my mother, in particular, with instilling it in me.
She’d taught me how to read before I started kindergarten, helping me sound out words as I sat curled like a kitten in her lap, studying a library copy of Dick and Jane. She’d cooked for us with care, putting broccoli and brussels sprouts on our plates and requiring that we eat them. She’d hand sewn my prom dress, for God’s sake. The point was, she’d given diligently and she’d given everything. She’d let our family define her. I was old enough now to realize that all the hours she gave to me and my brother, Craig, were hours she didn’t spend on herself.
My considerable blessings in life were now causing a kind of psychic whiplash. I’d been raised to be confident and see no limits, to believe I could go after and get absolutely anything I wanted. And I wanted everything. I wanted to live with the hat-tossing, independent-career-woman zest of Mary Tyler Moore, and at the same time I gravitated toward the stabilizing, self-sacrificing, seemingly bland normalcy of being a wife and mother. I wanted to have a work life and a home life, but with some promise that one would never fully squelch the other. I hoped to be exactly like my own mother and at the same time nothing like her at all. It was an odd and confounding thing to ponder. Could I have everything? Would I have everything? I had no idea.”
Reading her book, she also emphasized herself in a way that didn’t make you feel like she was on a whole different level on the social scale. She is just as human as anyone else. She accentuated that by giving us a detailed verbal tour of her everyday life when it came to balancing family and her career.
Her daughters, at the time of her husband’s campaigning; were both young and had needs only their mother could provide. And in the early stages of her husband’s campaign trail Mrs. Obama was advised by her husband’s team to spend time with Democrats in specific states. I believe her first mission was to go to every corner of Iowa, and win over leaders, address groups of citizens, etc. Basically having to fly to Iowa every week and talk to a bunch of strangers and kiss other people’s babies. On top of that, she had her own career as a the Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the University of Chicago Hospitals.
And aside from all of that, there was always one question running through her head;
“Am I good enough?”
This is a question a lot of other people my age ask too. Everyday when we pass a mirror, when someone gets a higher score on a test, when someone is more likeable at school. But also because of the way society depicts us. She would ask this question in her head when she was in different job positions, when she became First Lady of the United States.
I’m willing to talk to a lot of people and I find satisfaction in stating my opinion to everyone with a spunk and pride. But, I’m not the most social person either. And when reading this area of the book, I could relation on a personal level every time she questioned whether she was good enough for a high position in society. But look at the pride in her face. That all of the questioning and struggling was worth it. The sigh of relief when you realize Hey people actually like us for who we are! and the look of And if they don’t? So what?
I’m going to stop right here and say that Michelle Obama has become and even more admirable person to me ever since I finished reading her book and I hope you can have the same experience by at least skimming a copy or a PDF of it. Glancing over the book jacket would suffice! Reason I’m stopping here is because the rest of the book gives insight on her life in the White House and things she had to live with and learn in her time as FLOTUS. And if I typed it out here, in the open for everyone to read. It was spoil the joy of reading it for yourself. So one last thing before I sign off.
(All lyrics typed into this post belong to Lin Manuel Miranda and Mr. Miranda only. I can only aspire to have the incredible talent he has in lyricism. That being said, the musical Hamilton shall be mentioned in this post but does not belong to me. All rights go to Lin Manuel Miranda.)
You have no idea.
My friends always tease me every time a writing or drawing opportunity is brought up in any class. If I am lucky both combined. Sure I pay attention in class, heck my eyes never leave the teacher’s unless an instruction was said to do an activity that consisted the opposite. But every time we have an opportunity for free writing and/or drawing, no boundaries, no direction. I will instantly perk up. To my embarrassment my friends know me too well to understand that this will happen anytime, anywhere.
I’m teased by my friends in an affectionate way, obviously, due to this one little perk. I mean my friends are such amazing individuals that each have earned my respect and we would do anything for each other. We are all diverse and I love that. They make everyday incredible and leave me smiling every time. But I can never deny that we tease each other. We’ve all got our inside jokes, definitely. I mean playfully tantalizing is basically our groups version of acknowledging the other in a humorous version of our own basically.
Okay story time;
So early last year my friends and I were discussing ideas for an essay we had to write and I was basically writing furiously on a piece of paper and sketching ideas for the additional part of the project. My friends and I all shared one laptop outside to play music and do bits of research for our projects. We obviously decided to play Hamilton. But unexpectedly this line came along one of the songs featured:
“How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive? How do you write like you’re running out of time? How do your write like you need it to survive? How do you write every second you’re alive, every second you’re alive, every second you’re alive?”
Both my friends gave each other knowing looks, both smirking at me while I just gave them a look between confusion and wonder. This was around the time when I was just discovering the musical itself so I had only listened to a couple songs. The line was so intriguing and I saw why they pinpointed the lyric. This one lyric always keeps me going when I have given up. Because it makes me start thinking why I’ve started in the first place. And for some reason, after hearing that lyric, I felt like I could do my essay ten times better. Make it a worthwhile piece to read.
I have done posts where I fan girled about the musical Hamilton multiple times. But I never explained to you where it came from. Well the scene I wrote for you on the previous paragraph told just that. It took me at least a week to figure out that it was a line from a musical. It took me another week to listen to all forty-six songs. Listening intently to all 20,520 words non-stop.
Needless to say, It has earned the title of the best musical theater performance I have ever listened to in my life.
I have never, in my entire life, ever heard such a brilliant composition of song, of rap, of a historical and nonetheless undermined story. Each line a work of art itself. I mean it took Lin Manuel Miranda six years to write the entire thing. I don’t blame him though. I remember in one post, I added a URL to one of the songs, that song being Non-Stop, that song contained the lyric that my friends mentioned as well. So I hope some of you took the time to listen to it, but if you didn’t that’s okay, I’ll just go to that corner over there and cry now.
*sniff*
I’m just kidding.
Maybe.
You have no idea how much I just want to transport every song into every one of your brains and let you all listen for the next four and a half hours, but since that is physically impossible for me to do I might as well just describe the musical to you all.
*Major Spoilers Ahead*
(well technically these aren’t spoilers, I’m basically explaining history to you guys. So this isn’t spoiling. This is a history lesson. A slightly edited history. With legit rap lyrics . Anyway don’t blame me if you end up crying halfway through this post.) (0 – 0)
Alexander Hamilton was known historically to be an American Founding Father, a supporter of the American Constitution making him a Federalist. He founded nation’s financial systems, the coast guard, the New York Post newspaper, and the Federalist Party itself. But not many people seem to know his true life story. His tragedies, his loves, friendships, allies.
No one knew how much the eyes of history wanted him.
At the early age of ten, Alexander’s father fled and left him and his mother to stand for themselves. Ten years later, Alex and his mother became sick with the Yellow Fever. Alexander survived of course, but his mother. She easily found her deathbed and went.
She was buried in Christiansted, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
This left a damaging impact on Alexander, seeing his mother die right in front of his eyes in a stage of such adolescence. But he kept moving onward. Alexander found a temporary home with his cousin, but his cousin committed suicide. I’m sorry, I just hate saying that phrase but I had to do so for this case. I’m sorry for those who detest the phrase just as I do. Anyway, this led to Alexander realizing that he had no choice but to fend for himself. Alexander did nothing but read. He read everything and anything he could find. He worked for his mother’s previous landlord. Trading goods that he himself could never afford alone for himself. He would desperately find any book to bore into his mind, finally deciding to board a ship heading to a new land. New York.
Thus represented in the first song in the entire musical by this line:
“There would have been nothin’ left to do for someone less astute. He would’ve been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution. Started workin’, clerkin’ for his late mother’s landlord, tradin’ sugarcane and rum and all the things he can’t afford. Scammin’ for every book he can get his hands on, plannin’ for the future. See him now as he stands on the bow of a ship headed for a new land. In New York you can be a new man.”
Sidenote; Something else that happened before he departed his birthplace, an awful hurricane had hit and yet he still survived. But there is this line in the musical that is sung multiple times, a prevailing lyric at that.
“I imagine death so much it feels like a memory.”
This was such a brilliant line that I spent days poring over it. I mean, here is Alexander, multiple times in his life has overcome becoming a victim in the unrelenting jaws of death. And this line was always sung in a song where he was on the brink of death. But when I think about it, without that hurricane, Alexander Hamilton would never have immigrated to America. Never would’ve been such a huge part of our history. We never would be in the place we are in today in modern day America.
Just imagine that.
Alexander Hamilton, only nineteen but he already had his entire life goals splayed out in front of him like a map with too many pinpoints to count. And boy calling him smart was an understatement. I mean if you made him take a modern day test on any subject besides U.S. History(because he didn’t witness some history for himself that happened ahead of his time)I bet you he would have beat almost every Stanford or Harvard student or any university in general. Plus get like 700% out of like a 100% test. Okay I may be stretching the exaggeration too much but I’m just tryin’ to state my claims here.
A line establishing this in the third song being:
“I’m only nineteen but my mind is older.”
Alexander docked in New York and couldn’t help noticing that a certain prodigy of Princeton College was crossing paths with him. A mister Aaron Burr. And what better way to introduce yourself by bantering them about how to be successful in life?
Keeping up?
No?
Me neither.
There conversation went a little something along the lines of Alexander basically being a little over excited, therefore ending up with a very traumatized Aaron Burr. But Burr seems to find this, fire in Hamilton that could be cultivated. Even giving the advice of;
“Talk less, smile more.”
“Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.”
This line is exceptionally inspirational for me because I don’t think before I speak and if you let me I can ramble and lecture for as long as I could. Hours upon hours on one topic until everyone else in the room is waiting for me to stop. And I have this habit of being so focused on doing whatever I’m working on that I just have this serious look on my face and everyone thinks I look mad. No, that’s not the case so it’s nothing personal. I’m just not aware of whether or not I’m glaring or smiling or doing a poker face for that matter. My facial muscles don’t send signals to my brain saying that I’m practically staring down my paper or screen while I’m giving whoever is in my company break into a cold sweat.
From that moment onward, Alexander’s life was a vivacious whirl of battle, intense wars including the American Revolutionary War. He was then well known as General George Washington’s aide- de- camp. Eventually receiving the ranking of leutenent colonel.
But throughout the various songs, each one introduces a new character body who was extremely important in American history.
First, off, the trio themselves; John Laurens, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (aka just Marquis de) Lafayette), and Hercules Mulligan. Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan are in awe of Alexander’s quick wit and buoyancy, as well as the undying ambition that was constantly pumping in his veins. So There they were, Alexander Hamilton, fast friends with John Laurens(his best friend)Lafayette, and Mulligan. The Fall Out Boys of the 1780s and 1800s. An incredible quote Alex sand was;
I’m just like my country—I’m young, scrappy, and hungry, and I am not throwing away my shot.
Describing his hunger to fight for America and build success for himself. Along with this line that I fell in love with:
The plan is to fan this spark into a flame.
I just want to add a side note that I was left speechless. Absolutely speechless at the brilliance of Lin Manuel Miranda. I know of no one who could cultivate words in the ways he does, manipulating them to create a bewitching new story that makes you feel so many emotions almost all at once. I strive to be just as talented as him in my writing and music. Just reading one of his speeches, songs, raps, anything, makes me swell with this passion and a fire burn in my eyes. The influence he has put upon me is indescribable and yet I have a thousand words.
John Laurens was completely against slavery and fought immensely to abolish it. Lafayette was extremely helpful in Revolution and was the key reason as to why France and America became allies against Britain. Mulligan was a tailor’s apprentice and was a spy in the Revolutionary War, as well as a member of the Sons of Liberty. These three men are historical figures that I have come to admire and become immensely inspired by since I first learned about them through the musical, and then once again in history class this year.
Now the Schuyler sisters. Descended from General Schuyler these three were born into a wealthy family and was well known in New York. Women envied them, men wanted to charm their way to earn their hearts. These three incredible woman who each in miscellaneous ways contributed to the war and the men more than most I had read about. The eldest, Angelica Schuyler, was spunky and quick minded, very beautiful and emanated a confidence that stole all attention just from the action of walking into a room. Elizabeth Schuyler, the middle sister had inherited her eldest sister’s way to bite back at any comment, a bookish woman at heart who cared deeper than both her sister’s combined in the acts of the war. Margarita Schuyler( known as Peggy to her family members and close friends, as well as the name portrayed in the musical itself)was underestimated due to living in the shadows of her two older sisters but proved herself just as vigorous and abundant as her two sisters.
Even in the song title The Schuyler Sisters in the musical is proof of this if you will read vivaciously Angelica sang:
“You want a revolution? I want a revelation. So listen to my declaration: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, I’m ‘a compel him to include women in the sequel!”
Elizabeth adding on with:
“Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!”
Even when women were often underestimated, these three sisters back lashed and it clearly showed that those stereotypes had backfired beautifully.
Oh but my my, it seems that Caroline Schuyler,their mother, decided to throw a ball to finally find suitors for her dashing daughters. And it just so happens that Hamilton, Burr, and the rest of Alex’s friends went. And it seems that a romance was blossoming between Elizabeth Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton. Like a deep wound that could never be mended, Alexander’s love for Eliza grew with each beat of his heart and the throb of his temples. Though it took a while to cultivate that love with Eliza’s end of this wheel of affection.
Alexander Hamilton, the man who bowed to no one, gave his heart and soul onto a silver platter and placed it in front of Eliza to intertwine into one beautiful thing. Alexander’s love for his dear Eliza grew until he practically went mad with the mere thought of seeing his Betsey with someone else.
But wait
tHeRe’S mOrE.
Angelica Schuyler seems to have developed a yearning as well.
And that little voice in her head has developed a love forMr. Sassy McSmarty Pants himself; Alexander Hamilton.
The tables have turned!!
*gasp*
The songs Helpless and Satisfied were both back to back in the audio and musical and both are incredible songs that portray the emotions either sister felt. Helpless is sung by Eliza and shows a sequence of events, from Angelica introducing her to little Hammy Ham, Hamilton addressing Philip Schuyler for Eliza’s hand in marriage and so on and so forth. The song ending with Eliza and Alex being bonded together for life through the act of marriage.
But then Angelica is singing Satisfied, and I don’t even think I can explain this properly so I’ll just put the link to the audio below (ALL RIGHTS GO TO LIN MANUEL MIRANDA THEREFORE I DO NOT OWN THIS SONG OR THE MUSICAL FOR THAT MATTER WE HAVE BEEN OVER THIS PEOPLE)
Now T H A T was a lot to process now wasn’t it? Her sister is already married to the one man she will truly love and she had to live with that. Can you put yourself in that situation for a second? I mean the one thing you can never let go, you can’t live or breath without, is taken away unintentionally by a person you equally care about. And you live the rest of your life pretending you never wanted it in the first place.
Will the tables turn once again?
Probably.
Will our blood pertinaciously flee south from the intensity?
Can’t confirm that but its a possibility?
Will we all pass out from the almost ridiculous amount of suspense and drama in this one love triangle that only goes multiple directions let us prevail and cause further conflict that will lead to our own hearts breaking and wish people could just love the people they love and don’t fight over and live happily ever after like in children’s books instead of mentally grabbing each other’s throats without even realizing that they are thinking just so and you regret it instantly afterward but feel even worse realizing that it was your instincts to read this post in the first place and now your probably blame me for this sudden jerk of emotions plaguing your senses further worsening your mental conditions?
. . . . . . .
Maybe.
Well okay then.
Now all we need is a super dramatic cut scene that includes a fight between the protagonist and an unexpected villain that throws of the entire plot line. And some weird lookin’ part of their body that is the equivalent to a deformed taco. But that didn’t happen in American history(I wouldn’t be surprised if it did but anyway)that didn’t happen soooo;
we’re movin’ on people keep up with the program!
Okay so, wait hold on, where was I again? Hold on let me just scroll up a little bi- ah! Angelica is talking about how she loves Alex but he already married Eliza and she just wants her sister to be happy and blah blah sadness blah depression blah blooh blah blah.
Jeez, I really doubt the fact that I don’t have ADD or ADHD. I have the precision and memory of a goldfish mongoose hybrid, if that exists. Which it probably doesn’t, but-
Okay moving on sorry,(not sorry).
But one thing I wanna point out is a line that Alexander says directly to Angelica upon there first meaning that basically defines my life to me:
“There’s a million things I haven’t done. Just you wait, just you wait.”
This line is so simple, but so straight forward. And I have never heard anything like this. Gods I, I can never be able to explain the emotions and the raw, animalistic passion that I felt listening to the line. His passionate voice truly replicating what he wanted to do in the world. As Alexander Hamilton in his role. But Lin Manuel Miranda also described his own lust.
I have never connected more with any lyric like that before.
And I don’t think, I ever will again.
There is so much I want to do, so many dreams. And there’s always this sense of urgency, this growling need for something I just can’t describe myself. I have so much of it that pumps constantly from when I wake to when I fall into the trance of sleep. I want to show people that I’m not just a girl who just writes and draws and plays some instrument. I don’t want to just be that girl you’ll see in the hallways at school. The girl you only see in person every few years since we’re so far apart across the globe. Not just the girl that has so many plans but can’t carry them out. I don’t want to just be
that girl.
A minority in the universe that hasn’t made an impact and never will.
I’m sick of being underestimated for what I can and can’t do.
But this lyric makes me feel like I have a chance, a chance to contribute in something huge. Something that will affect everyone. Let that fire consume everyone. This gives me a hope that I can. So
there’s a million things I haven’t done. But just you wait.
just you wait.
Now there seems to be a minor hurricane stirring in side Aaron Burr here. In the song after The Story of Tonight Reprise, the song Wait for It, focuses on Burr’s irritation toward every succession attacking Hamilton. But Hamilton and Burr are polar opposites if I haven’t cleared that already. Hamilton takes his chances and is outgoing, whilst Burr is willing to use is own philosophy and well, wait for what is to come that is in storage for him. The song included this spectacular lines as well;
I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable, I am an original.
Burr lost everyone he had ever loved, his mother, father, grandparents. Therefore he claims that Hamilton has something to prove, and that he has nothing to lose. As said in this line:
Hamilton faces an endless uphill climb. He’s got something to prove, he’s got nothing to lose.
So, well there really isn’t much you can say about this portion of the musical until you actually heard the song so. Yeah, listen to the musical. You’ll understand way more.
Once again Laurens, Lafayette, Burr, and Hamilton go marching off being the brave soldiers they are,
to there death.
No surprise, Hamilton leaves an anxious Eliza to fight for his country. The soldiers are struggling immensely, no food or water, forced to eat their own horses. Merchant’s denying them equipment. If I am correct, Hercules Mulligan eventually leaves to continue his apprenticeship, leaving Lafayette, Laurens, and Hamilton in the war. Laurens and Hamilton write essays and letters to fight against slavery, whilst Lafayette sends for French aids to send a ship or two to assist the American troops.
Hamilton is reluctant to be chosen to command, but each time he is denied his constant requests. Instead assigning a Mister Charles Whee- I mean Lee, Charles Lee for the job. This pisses of Hamilton pretty bad. Especially since during every single battle leading on with Charles Lee in command, goes awry because Mr. Lee is basically having a mental heart attack of fear. Finally, the Battle of Monmouth takes place and George Washington has had enough, so instead of having Hamilton lead and command, Lafayette is assigned to take the lead.
Hundreds of thousand soldiers died from fighting in hundreds of degree’s of heat. But the battle was won nonetheless in my knowledge of chronological events. Charles Lee was left behind by the troops, but that didn’t stop him from saying some pretty nasty stuff behind General Washington’s back. This snaps Hamilton’s last vein and therefore tells Washington his concerns. Washington waves him off and tells him to focus on the war and move along. Laurens however convinces himself and Hamilton that Charles Lee needs to be put in his place. And what better way to do that than invite someone to a duel to the death?
*jazz hands*
How a duel works, is to solve a conflict. the two opponents must meet at the spot chosen, go 20 paces(or in the musical 10 paces)backwards and face your opponent. Your pistols are loaded and its inevitable that someone could get killed or severely hurt. I mean, it’s a bullet what do you expect? I’m pretty sure no one duels anywhere, anymore. I mean this is basically murder so technically it’s illegal right? Well anyway this is the 1700 and 1800s get over it.
Charles Lee and Laurens are the opponents, whilst, Aaron Burr and Hamilton are the seconds. Hamilton is obviously on Lauren’s side on the situation, while Aaron Burr tries to patch up the conflict by talking some sense into Hamilton.
That obviously didn’t work.
So I conclude this portion with this line that Hamilton sings towards Laurens as he steady’s his position:
“Look ‘em in the eye, aim no higher. Summon all the courage you require Then count., One two three four Five six seven eight nine Number Ten paces Fire”
Laurens shoots Lee on his side and Burr is vigilant to quickly get him to the medic. While Laurens and Hamilton bask in the satisfaction of leading the last straw and plucking it, Washington storms into the situation and boy is he furious. He ends up sending Hamilton home temporarily and Alexander thinks it because the general is mad. But no, there’s a reason behind it.
ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON IS PREGNANT YO
Hamilton is ecstatic for the arrival of his first born but fears he won’t be able to provide for an unborn child and his wife. Him being a poor man who came from no family and had no income. He worries himself scarce and rethinks every accomplishment that he had placed behind him on an unstable shelf of self doubt. But Eliza a being the incredible woman sings this instead:
“Look at where you are. Look at where you started. The fact that you’re alive is a miracle. Just stay alive, that would be enough. And if this child. Shares a fraction of your smile. Or a fragment of your mind, look out world. That would be enough. I don’t pretend to know. The challenges you’re facing. The worlds you keep erasing and creating in your mind.”
But then, time passes and George Washington needs Alexander, his right hand man, back on the battle field. Eliza knows in her heart that Alexander is needed but still seemed hesitant. Alexander is with the same but before he can think to much, he finally comes back to George Washington and meets with him once again. But he wasn’t scolded, he wasn’t pleaded with, he wasn’t being given orders. Washington merely had valuable advice to give to the frivolity of the soldier before continuing on with a life of his own to cultivate and nourish:
“I was younger than you are now When I was given my first command I led my men into a massacre Witnessed their deaths firsthand Oh, I made every mistake I felt the shame rise in me And even now I lie awake Knowing history,
has its eyes on me.
Let me tell you what I wish I’d known When I was young and dreamed of glory You have no control Who lives, who dies, who tells your story
I know that we can win I know that greatness lies in you But remember from here on in That history, has its eyes, on you.”
This is one of the most powerful lines I have ever heard.
This is so true and absolutely brilliant if you think about long enough. And trust me, I have. This is the kind of lyric that keep’s me awake at night, the score running in my head as the song repeats in my head. This sums up perfectly just how much Alexander Hamilton was valued in Washington’s mind, and the heads of everyone else who valued him.
Its the Battle of Yorktown guys! The adrenaline is driving inside everyone with Hamilton back. Laurens is in South Carolina fighting against slavery. Lafayette is waiting at Chesapeake Bay when the British scurry away from the battlefield holding a white flag. Hercules Mulligan is spying on the British for inside info regarding the British Government so the plan was absolutely perfect. Alex is completely okay with sacrificing himself for the birth of a new nation, but then he drives of the fact of coming home to Eliza, better yet to his son. Represented with this line;
“I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory This is where it gets me: on my feet The enemy ahead of me If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me Weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me Then I remember my Eliza’s expecting me… Not only that, my Eliza’s expecting We gotta go, gotta get the job done Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son!”
What better way to motivate yourself in a hostile situation than think of the people who love you and you love just as much.
This was, no doubt the most important battle in the Revolution War of the United States. George Washington leading 17,000 French ally troops along with the American Colonists battling in troops against the 9,000 troops lead by General Charles Cornwallis. A week of fighting passed before a man in a redcoat stood frantically waving a white handkerchief. The joy is contagious as the soldiers are hollering in their victory, Alexander joyous to bring a new nation along with his son. Lafayette finally bringing freedom to America and France. Laurens questioning what this means for slaves and citizens alike.
Oh my god,
I
have
made
a most
terrible
mistake.
i forgot to mention king george the third guys.
Okay long story short, King George the Third was the dude who decided that he could do whatever the heck he wanted and be a tyrant and control the American colonies like a toddler playing with a spindle toy with a string. He is adamant and refuses to accept the fact that America doesn’t need him or want him. My history teacher even described the Declaration of Independence to be like a “breakup letter” from America to King George. Remember that rap song I even put on my last post towards the end? My assignment was based of an argument between someone who supported King George and a person fighting against him.
So basically what I’m tryin’ to say is King George basically went insane when America declared itself a new nation of independence.
Okay moving along
Aaron Burr serenades us with a song, accompanied by Alex, about his daughter and his son. Both singing of just how much they cared for these lights in there lives. Theodosia Burr was Aaron Burr’s daughter, and Philip Hamilton was Hamilton’s son. Hamilton’s son is a very important character towards the end so stay tuned. Er, I mean keep reading, I mean this isn’t a podcast or anything. It would be cool if it was though!
Hamilton sets of to study and practice law with Burr doing the similar. And Hamilton, coming to no surprise, quickly rises to the top. Now this is the song that truly shows that Hamilton is an exuberant little cinnamon roll of death you should never ever mess with. I mean god this guy went from a living war machine to a living war machine with an ink bottle a quill, and a lifetime supply of paper. I mean this guy is super human when it comes to brains and diligence. Step aside Einstein cause Hamilton’s in the house.
But Hamilton’s- uhh- excitement, seems to be a tad bit too exuberant for the mellow lawyers and other people who must associate with him almost everyday. an example of these frequent outburst of ideas and excitement regarding his contributions for the country are above what anyone thinks a normal human being could do. Aaron Burr tries to help his friend out and calm him down to make the man a little less rash, a fruitless attempt.
Alexander tries to recruit Burr to clean up the government by writing a series of anonymous essays and articles. But Burr refuses with every attempt Hamilton places in front of him. So Hamilton takes in James Madison and John Jay. The three men working endlessly to write only 25.
They ended up with 85 essays in six months.
John Jay wrote five before becoming quite ill.
James Madison wrote twenty-nine.
Hamilton wrote,
the other fifty-one.
Fifty-one essays, in six months. I honestly didn’t now how to react when this information bled through my earbuds and into my ears. I mean this dude, was underestimated almost all his life and then did this. I don’t think he wrote this just for it’s exact purpose.
He wrote fifty-one because he wanted to prove himself even more,
He wrote fifty-one essays because he wanted to prove that he was more than enough for people to be convinced that he was capable.
He wrote fifty-one because history had its eyes directed on him like a spotlight that will never fade away.
Nothing, I swear, nothing, will convince me that Alexander Hamilton is anything but a brilliant man who had an ambition. His worst fear was being forgotten, for not leaving something on this Earth that will stand forever and onward. A fire was burning in every vein and artery. Flowing like ambrosia from his heart and searing anything it touches like the river Plegethon.
Someone else wouldn’t agree.
Thomas Jefferson was in France for, a while.
If you call 1,825 days a short while.
Yeah I counted.
He was in the midst of the rise of American politics. Shining opportunity for anyone(well except women, and slaves, and you know what I think you get the point)Him and mister James Madison were already heading for New York for George Washington called for them. And you bet little Hammy Ham is gonna be there. And the instant they did it was as if tiny battalions were going off in both there brains.
of hatred.
Its a whirl of different perspectives. Eliza is anxious for her dear husband to just spend some more time with her and there family, Aaron Burr wants more opportunity, and Washington, well, he has to make sure Jefferson and Hamilton don’t slit each others throats with butter knives and various other cutlery. As all of this unfolds and Hamilton basically roasts Jefferson on a daily basis, Angelica and Eliza try convincing him to take a break, get away from the work and spend time with the children and them. Hamilton declines innocently obviously.
That’s probably the worst decision he could ever have made.
Maria Reynolds, wife of James Reynolds, comes sauntering in and basically attempts to bewitch Hamilton to do something he’ll regret later. Course that worked out pretty well for her but not for him. This ended up with Madison, Jefferson, and Burr finding out through James Reynold’s bank account somehow. Hamilton ends up thinking with a brilliant idea. So instead of having others release info he didn’t want out in the world, he decided to just do it himself. Thus ending up with him releasing, The Reynolds Pamphlet. Need I say more?
Eliza is absolutely heartbroken and extremely mad, leaving Angelica absolutely furious. Philip is appalled by this information and struck heavily. Philip is about 19 by the way and he is just as smart as his father, leaving every professor and teacher with nothing to teach him because if you have the blood of Alexander Hamilton, circulating in your body I think you’ll be fine on your own. George Eacker seemed to have been saying some bad stuff about Philip’s father. This basically led to Philip getting really mad and than challenging Eacker to a duel. Philip goes to his father for advice about his duel and though he isn’t confident, he takes pride in his father’s words to him and is content. But then, George Eacker only had counted to seven, before shooting Philip.
He died in the arms of his mother and father.
I sobbed in this portion of the musical because it showed so much emotion, even if it only was an audio through my ears.
I sobbed for Philip because he was only nineteen but he already lost his life,
I sobbed for Eliza because she lost her own flesh and blood.
I sobbed for Alexander because he lost a fraction of his heart.
I just I know how they must’ve felt. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.
That is all I can muster myself to type on this topic.
Alexander tries to get Eliza to speak to him once again. She had gone through so much, losing her son and having her own husband in an affair. I can’t imagine what she was going through. I personally think she had the right to want to stay silent, I mean after all that? Deftly! Finally Eliza breaks, she and Alex mend their love, because a love like that can never be fractured forever.
Meanwhile Jefferson and Aaron Burr are butting heads in the Election of 1800 both desperate for the presidency. But it’s up to Alex to finalize who wins because its a tie. He was starting to think that Aaron Burr had now beliefs, merely because he never chose a side to stand. Alex even said to him face to face
“If you stand for nothing Burr what will you fall for?”
in the third song of Act 1 of the musical. Hamilton votes for Jefferson, which infuriates Burr.
Burr wanted to be where everyone else worked and strove for a large cause. An infant nation. He wanted to lead. With each opportunity that sported just that, Hamilton took it away. This anger bubbling inside him to no end, until he had enough. He invites Hamilton to duel.
Hamilton points his pistol upward expecting Burr to cease fire. Burr shoots forward expecting Hamilton to have the buoyancy to shoot. They were both wrong. Hamilton was wounded and there was no going back. He died on July 12th, 1804. The age of 47 or 49. He passed with Eliza and Angelica beside him.
Lin Manuel Miranda is one of my idols and I look up to him so much. He is someone I wish I could meet someday, converse with him. I want to peer through that brilliant mind of his. How did he come up with such brilliance? We all have the same amount of hours in each day, the same amount of day in a week, the same number of weeks in a month, the same chronological order in a year. How does one do such things like this? He is a person that truly inspires me and I will never stop admiring every step of success he takes. He spreads love and beauty with each step and I can only strive to be in that place.
So in the brilliant words of his emanated through John Laurens;
Rise up When you’re living on your knees, you rise up Tell your brother that he’s gotta rise up Tell your sister that she’s gotta rise up
I have seen so many documentaries, articles, and movies about people being stranded from and airplane crash, or a shipwreck in a storm. Countless books with hundreds of words emphasizing the experience of such a situation. I have so much respect towards those people who have survive things like plane crashes, or getting stranded, or a state like that. They have so much willpower to survive something like that. Not to mention the intelligence and state of mind to be in so you don’t literally go insane. I honestly, just thinking about being all alone, barely any food or fresh water, afloat on a vast sea infested with sharks, ships passing by ignoring my own presence. Oh my gods, that thought, I cant.. I cant imagine how hard it is for.. Oh my gosh.
Some people who go through such things are either traumatized for the rest of there lives or are sane enough to tell the story. Honestly I have seen a lot of survival movies like Castaway, The Martian, Interstellar, Passengers, Gravity, etc. Those were all amazing movies that really got me thinking: What would I do? Of course thats an irrelevant question because in this time of the present, there is no chance that I could ever get caught in such a situation-because I never would want to. But then again, the elements are unpredictable, weather it be the sea, land, earth, sky, fire, ice. I have already experienced the wrath of water, I know others have too.
There are survivors everywhere, anyone really. It could be that person you see every morning on the way to work. It could be a barista at a cafe. It could be a person sitting on the streets without a home and all you can do is give them a few dollars in cash and a nod of pity and swelling sorrow. You never know a persons story just from a quick look or a nod of the head. You cant just assume that they are like you. A normal person with a normal life. Life does not work that way. There isn’t a point in living if it is.
There are real castaways out there, some have been discovered, Some died but there story was somehow told.
The human mind never dwells on the fact that all hope is lost, it depends on the situation that you are in, if you are with others or aren’t, if you are on sea, land, or in distress with another element, and if you have little or enough of the material you need to survive long enough or not at all. A persons determination and willpower is a remarkable thing that is key when it comes to surviving. From what I have seen and read(in my opinion)you have to know these three things:
Think outside the box. Get as many resources as possible. Do whatever it takes to survive long enough to be rescued.
Dont lose hope. This can lead to you okay with dying. Giving up on everything you ever had faith in. Your throwing your whole life away on on decision. It will literally cost you your soul.
Dont die.
To me its just pathetic how people just wave away another persons help and just go with their ego instead. You have no idea how another person opinion can benefit you. Take someones advice as if your life depends on it. You never know, it just might.
My dad is the best person to ask for good movies to watch. I swear that man has like movie playlist in his mind okay. Anyway, yesterday I was trying to decide what movie to watch. Suddenly I see this movie called All Is Lost. I was instantly intrigued with the title and the poster:
Suddenly my dad popped up and was all like:
Dad: *stumble* *trip* *pants* *bursts through the living room*
Me: *questioning look*
Dad: *pant* That *wheeze* movie is *pant* the best *cough* film *cough* IHAVEEVERSEEN.
Me: …..
Me: I figured.
We all settled down and I was instantly sucked in. Now let me tell you something.
There is only one character in this movie. He barely speaks a word except in the start when he monologues a brief apology to a unknown person(or people) before the movie unfolds revealing him. Robert Redford is the main-and only-character in this movie about a man(named Our Man in the credits)who is alone in the Indian Ocean on a damaged boat that he wakes up to with water flooding in when his boat collides with a stray shipping container. He goes to high heights(literally)to keep that boat afloat for as long as possible. One more thing. He is absolutely, utterly alone. When his boat is too damaged to sail, he puts an inflatable lifeboat afloat into the sea, bringing food, a sextant, journal, a pen, a tin can, a sweatshirt, and of course himself and his will. As he lets his ship sink he floats away going further into the Sumatran Strait. It isn’t clear if he was closer or farther from land. Sharks circle his raft, ships cant seem to see him. When it comes to the last straw of survival, he had to resort to setting a fire on the life raft to be seen by another sailor.
I am taking this way to seriously. WHO CARES. okay maybe my parents?! Whatever.
This movie is absolutely stunning. When he is in pain, I feel pain(metaphorically) . He is doing everything he possibly can to survive. He has but one thing to help navigate himself-a sextant and a map. The music is light and faded but really adds more to the core of the movie. Robert Redford did amazing, his facial expressions really emphasizing what is happening. Everything is just… UGGGHHH WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SAY. Ahem. This movie is literally the best film I have ever seen in my entire life. And I have learned the main moral of life:
Ahh, winter. The wonderful season in which we can snuggle together with our loved ones sipping steaming cocoa or tea while sitting by the kindling fire and nibbling on homemade cookies. Winter is one of my favorite seasons but alas, everything must have pros and cons. Winter can also bring an arousal inside everyone’s immune systems that can only bear one(actually a couple)thing(s). And those things are tissue boxes, steaming hot tea with loads of honey(even though my mom says that too much honey can lead to digestion)biscuits, blankets, pillows, and a distinct selection of Winnie the Pooh movies and other Disney phenomena. I was playing with my little sister this morning and one of her favorite songs is Jingle Bells, though it has been two days since Christmas, well who cares what would a a baby know? Anyway I tried my best to sing but I was to busy struggling with my dry and sore vocal chords. In fact here is a written interpretation of the setting:
Me: Dashing through *cough* *wheeze* snow, in a one *sneeze* horse open *couch* sleigh over the *wheeze* hills *sneeze* we go *voice crack* laughing all the way *another voice crack*
Thulasi: …
Mom: AWW MY POOR WITTLE BABY IS STILL SICK I will go get you some tissues and a spoon full of honey you must feel awful.
Me: Ma *wheeze* I’m *cough* fine *sneeze*
Dad: STOP SITTING AROUND LIKE A POTATO AND GO AND DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF.
Mom: Calm down she has a horrible cold.
Dad: Yeah well I have a cold too!
Me: *mumbles* Yeah, a cold temper.
Mom: *holding back laughter*
Dad: Well I will just go…..
This is usually me when I am under the weather, cold, fever, whatever. One minute I feel like I can run the world, then the next second I’m a little burrito wrapped in blankets and coughing and shivering and complaining that walking is to hard of a task to accomplish constantly the whole day without stumbling and falling from fatigue and lack of decent sleep due to being uncomfortable during the night because of my dang cold. My dignity(and decency)flushing away, while the sickening microorganisms in my body prevail me.
This results with me mostly spending my time( the days in which I am ill)sitting on the couch and binge watching Disney movies. At least three tissue boxes, a hot drink in a mug, stuffed animals, hair tied into a knot that probably cant be easily undone, a runny nose, sore muscles, straining eyes, obscene temper, and incredibly irritable.
But you see, the thing is I am still a movie nut in general. Hmm, maybe thats why I am so lazy…. OH WELL.
When I am feeling lazy(which my mom says is all the time so it seems)I just like to curl up on the sofa and scroll through the movies, sometimes picking movies from the late 2000s like A Monster Calls or The Martian(BOTH OR INCREDIBLE MOVIES NO DOUBT), but sometimes I turn to my dad for suggestions and he will point some really good movie from the 1990 or 1980s. Like E.T. or The Gremlins. But recently my dad told me that there is this one movie from 1998 called The Truman Show. Now, I did not exactly walk in clueless when I clicked the movie and played it. Many of my friends had seen it before with their families and my dad had watched it years before. They all told me the same thing. THIS IS SO SAD OMG. I honestly thought they were just being emotional babies. Boy, did they prove me wrong.
Now, I do not want to reveal anything to much because introducing even a small thing in this post will be like the butterfly affect and spoil the whole movie for all of you(if you watch it of course)
The movie is about a man named Truman Burbank(Jim Carrey, [YAH BOI])who goes about living on his life with his vivacious wife Meryl(Laura Linney), a nurse working in the local hospital. But Truman starts becoming suspicious of his own community, as if he is the only focus of the whole town. As if the whole world is revolving around him. He soon discovers bits and pieces of a massive secret that everyone in the world knows… Except him. What naive Truman doesn’t know is that his entire life is being broadcasted live to the entire globe. His every move, his secretive acts, his tragedies. The director of the show trying as to manipulating his future or worse, his mind.
I am sorry for the lack of info but seriously this movie just blows my mind. The intricately thought out details and storyboard. Plus my dad just introduced me to Jim Carrey by showing me a couple of his movies and he is possibly now one of my favorite actors. Jim Carrey fit the role perfectly with his humor and emotion. Plus I love that one iconic quote he says(don’t worry I will say it at the end of the post)
I hope you guys will watch this movie because honestly, I think everyone needs to watch this movie and just think deeply about for a while(THATS WHAT I DID!). So bye! And one more thing-
IF I DON’T SEE YA GOOD AFTERNOON GOOD EVENING AND GOODNIGHT!
Recently(actually last Wednesday) this years Apple Key Note event happened. The speakers(Tim Cook,etc) introduced the IPhone X( The X representing the number ten in Roman Numerals.) IPhone 8, the Apple Watch Series 3, and talked about the variety of new features in each device, as well as IOS 11 and the updates it provides for you Apple devices. But the things i always look forward to in these key notes is not the mechanism of the newly designed camera, not the sleek design, not the new updates(okay I still love those, don’t judge), but I instead am always anticipating the reveal videos they film.
I know, I know, I am a weird person. Okay I get that, but let me finish.
Apple has a way of presenting there devices in ways that no other tech company can imitate. The overture’s are so unique that it’s impossible to actually replicate that style. I mean can you imagine, let’s use the video below as an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUvD80mNKBM
Done watching the(incredible) video? Now imagine everything you just saw, but with like a Samsung product or some other knockoff smart watch. Odd huh? Now let me bring about the subject that I wanted to introduce in this post.
It actually hit me to write about the Apple videos as soon as my dad showed me the videos revealing the devices for the first time this year.
These videos are pure works of art and beyond what I imagined they would represent. It’s so hard to explain this but each video has it’s own uniqueness to it. For example, the latest apple watch reveal video. Have any other Apple ad consisted of only surfers, a four second show of the watch, and waves? And also the way they present the products, the start is always so mysterious, even if you read the title of the video, you never expect to see a tiny or large screen light up in what is the abyss of black(or white) that is the screen.
Okay time out for a second. I am literally binge watching every single Apple Reveal video. I am going to break the replay button.
Anyway, the artistic style and ability the people who film the videos is incredible. I mean as a flute player myself, I love the music. I mean literally when I’m working on a post or doing homework or doing who knows what on what is the black hole that is the internet my parents will look over me and to the screen and be all like, “hey watcha listening to?” And then I’ll just be sitting there giving a poker face and pulling up the other tab. And then bam, on the video dashboard they will literally see an apple watch floating in slow motion like and angel across the screen. Yup that’s right, I listen to music from Apple. Some of the music is catchy, some sound like there from the San Fransisco Sonata, some make me feel like I can do anything and everything. And this is all coming from a person who listens to emo music(whatever that is to you guys.)
All of the music is produced by them, written and site read, practiced and played. Oh my gosh it’s just. I can’t even write what I feel. If I were to meet at least one of the members in that band or orchestra the first thing I would want to say to them(embarrassingly) is:
“I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO YOUR TALENT AND DEDICATION. I WILL NOW GO RETRIEVE MY FLUTE AND SHEET MUSIC SO YOU WILL TEACH ME YOUR WAYS OH WISE ONE.”
But what I really want from these videos is quite simple really….
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM NEED RECOGNITION.
My dad told me that the people who filmed those beta fish in the IPhone 6s and 6+ video traveled HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD TO GET A FEW SHOTS FOR THE VIDEO.
TELL ME THAT’S NOT DEDICATION. I MEAN LOOK AT IT. LOOK HOW AMAZING IT LOOKS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3PeX1V2_Q
I always get this feeling that accumulates throughout my whole body every time I think about the motto Steve Jobs came up with Think Different. From the start Jobs wanted to make massive changes among people’s perspectives of the world, as well as making people just say, nothing. They become speechless. I become overwhelmed no matter how many times I watch each video.
I made this post because I’m definitely going to post constantly and plus today I had extra time on my hands because being the “good girl” I am, i decided to finish my work and didn’t procrastinate. So anyways. I’m sorry that there’s a lack of content in this post. But I hope it’s enough. Well, signing off, and as always, Think Different.
Below is one of my favorite videos, although all videos featured in this post are my all time favorites.
On the day before the last day of school I had my final science class. My teacher was a lover of nature. She would tell us stories of her travels in Yosemite, or Yellowstone National Park, or some incredible land form she was able to see. But on that last day she asked us a to write a very simple question and our answers towards it. But it was a question filled with such depth that the only sound heard in the classroom was the tapping and clicking sounds coming from of our pens and pencils. The guy next to me had is brows furrowed and his eyes looking down at the question that we were assigned to write on the paper:
Whats your favorite thing about Earth?
Please, think about this for just a brief moment. I feel like this is a question that the majority of the planet’s population should answer. It just tugs at the strings dangling in your heart. It’s one of those questions that make me bite my nails for a bit of time. I had actually thought about this question for quite a while actually, though I was never asked this question by anyone other then my own conscience.
The sheet of paper I was given to write on wasn’t enough, a stack of pages wouldn’t be enough, an empty book wouldn’t be enough for me to describe the things that I keep so dear in my heart. Here is what I wrote( well at least what I remember writing ): I love rain, the feeling of small portions of water sliding down my face, my hair, my hands. I love clouds, it’s as if they show as much emotion as any other living thing. I love wind. It makes me feel like I’m flying even when my feet are on the ground. I love seeing the stars every night, I like to think of them as each person’s soul. The glow of them all comes from the fire of each heart. I love that we can dream, dream about the most amazing things, and that really makes me feel like the luckiest person alive. Or to be fair it makes us all very very lucky. I know that we were supposed to write just one. But I just can’t do that.
I didn’t have enough time to write more because class was going to end in about fifteen minutes and our teacher wanted to read a few before the bell rang for the end of the period. I signed my paper and handed it in. I noticed that the others sheets showcased only one or two sentences, and yet my classmates looked as if they had just written their thesis for college. What I also noticed was the the majority of the essays( or should I say extremely short paragraph) were about internet, sports, celebrities, architecture, or some innovation that has helped( but I think harmed) the human race. But there was one person who wrote something quite similar to mine. I recognized the name as one of my friends. And he was also a person of science. I remember the first conversation I had ever had with him was related to our dreams, science, and what we thought about the depths of space. In fact he was the one who told me to see the trailer for the movie “The Space Between Us.”( this movie will be mentioned soon in this post) He basically wrote what I wrote at the end of my summary, but he wrote a bit more. To my terror my teacher read my paragraph aloud to the whole class. I was able to feel heat creeping up from my neck and into my cheeks. My friend whispered,
“You look like a little tomato.”
“Yeah thanks a lot.” I hissed.As I have grown, I continuously try to look at the world like I’m seeing it for the first time. I think I have succeeded. I am looking at Earth more closely.I want to really open my eyes to the world. I try my hardest to give my soul, mind, and heart to the world as I watch it. And as it watches me. Because Earth has music for those who will listen.
But I have seen a movie just recently( actually only 24 hours ago) that really reached out to me in this situation. The Space Between Us is about Gardner Elliot(played by Asa Butterfield), the first human to ever be born on Mars. His mother Sarah Elliot died giving birth to him on the red planet thus because she was on a voyage to Mars so her and a group of five other astronauts can settle there as citizens of the planet of red soil. But Gardner is left with some of her belonging on Mars. Those small items decreasing his knowledge of Earth and his family, but increasing his yearning to thrive in Earth. He has an online friendship with Tulsa( played by Britt Robertson), a teenage girl in Colorado. He soon is able to convince the scientist(s) that raised him to let him go on a maiden voyage to Earth. He is finally able to experience everything on the Earth, and find out what is real and not real. But soon enough scientists realize that his organs won’t be able to withstand the atmosphere of Earth. He and Tulsa are in a race against time as they travel to to unravel the mysteries of his past, how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe. Director Peter Chelsom, and Screenwriter Allan Loeb crafted an incredible story that really tugged at my heartstrings and as well featured the question that I have written aimlessly in this post. This was a drama/scifi film that had so much meaning and moral to it. And it really did get me thinking about how i lived my life and what I continue to think: What is my favorite thing about Earth?I want you to try to answer this as well. Think very deeply about this. And not just right now, but throughout your life. Trust me, it can change you. So, what’s your favorite thing about Earth?
The United States of America. The country of free speech, choice, and action. If you put the name in syllables you get The/UNITED/STATES/of/America. Our states are united, representing the country of freedom. But what if I told you that a man had flown to the United States, only to find that his visa wasn’t valid because his home country can’t even be referred to as a place anymore, due to the civil war that took place in the location. And without the valid documentations he isn’t able to step on American soil, nor the grains of his homeland. That is until he is given a new passport that can help him depart. but alas. He is told that he is to live and roam through the airport in which he shuttled until further notice. Imagine, living in an airport, in an atmosphere you aren’t familiar with. The interests and daily living actions of the others roaming about are confusing and become more and more foreign to you.
On August 26, 1988 Mehran Karimi Nasseri was told that he couldn’t walk on American land unless he had is documents. But unfortunately, the luggage containing those specific papers was stolen. Thus leading him to live in Terminal 1 of the Charles de Gaulle Airport. He then became hospitalized due to an unspecified ailment. Therefore he had to leave the airport on July in 2006. He lived eighteen years in the airport, his life slowly crumbling away from him. He later on wrote the book “The Terminal Man,” and “Terminal.” His story then inspired the Steven Spielberg movie “The Terminal.”
He had lost all his freedom, along with his own dignity.
A few weeks ago I saw the movie “The Terminal.” If you can’t tell already, I have really strong feelings towards this story. Not only did it happen in real life, but it has been happening multiple times. The movie is partially based of the experiences of the man who lived eighteen years in an airport in France, but it was also an interpretation of what people imagine life that way is like.
Victor Navorski( played by Tom Hanks) traveled to the United States in hopes of finishing a goal that had sentimental value. But in his home country a civil war has started and has now defined the land as not even a place at all. Unfortunately for Mr. Navorski, he now had no land that he can refer to as his home land. Therefore he is forced to live in the JFK airport. But soon he befriends the employees and staff of the airport. Including Amelia Warren, a flight attendant who he befriends.
(Director)Steven Spielberg presented a warming, funny, drama film that movie lovers of all ages can enjoy.
Disclaimer: I wanted to dedicate just one post to a movie review, but I will still continue writing about my trip next week. I just wanted to fit in this one post because I think it has a message that everyone needs to hear. And when I say everyone needs to hear the message it sends, I mean it.
When people think about happiness, they think everything in their life is perfect, or will be perfect. I can explain to you for hours about how wrong that is. Happiness depends on your life, what situation you’re in, and how you live. Happiness isn’t by chance, but by choice. I like to think that happiness is like rain. It can come to you when you least expect it. First it’s just a drizzle, then it’s pouring, finally your soaked. Like I said, it depends, on the way you live. But it also depends on what kind of person you are. Happiness can either come to you in storm, or leave you waiting in a dry, secluded, desert. So when making choices in life that can affect your happiness, and other people’s lives, choose wisely. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets you on fire, you’ll be surprised on how much of an affect it can have on your life.
Christoper “Chris” Gardner is mainly known for being a stockbroker, motivational speaker, and an author in his later life. But what really shocked people when they heard of his backstory, was of his struggle. Long before he became so successful he was struggling to find a place that he and his young son could call home. In the 1980’s he struggled with finding a decent job, and finding places to stay and keep his son safe. They both once had to sleep in a bathroom stall in a Bart station. They had to sleep in churches where other people who had a similar situation as them came as well. This all took place in San Fransisco. Where people who are struggling with daily living and finding homes roam the streets even today. That is probably the saddest part out of the whole thing. People still roam, they can’t find a place that they can call home. Every time I think about this I feel guilty. I have a decent education. I have a roof over my head, food on the table. I have warm clothes to wear. I have a computer that I can type in. I can afford a doctor and dentist. I have a place that I call home. Just think about it for a moment. You’ll understand what I feel.
A few weeks ago I was working on one of my posts for the blog, my dad was standing over me reading through. He then said “You should watch the movie The Pursuit of Happyness and write a post about it.” I saw the DVD just sitting there so once I finished the post, I put the DVD into the desktop and pressed play. The movie was based of Chris Gardner’s life during the 1980’s. In one of the scene’s it showed Chris( played by Will Smith) and his son (Played by Jaden Smith) are waiting in a long thick line leading to a church that is letting people sleep there for one night. The line was so long, some people fought with each other to get to the front, or get a chance to sleep in a bed. It was so so sad. But one of the saddest parts was when they were both sleeping in a bathroom stall, the door was locked so no one could find them. There were actual tears on the keyboard that I was leaning on. I wish everyone in the world could watch this movie and think about it for a while. He didn’t look for happiness in the place where it perished. He looked everywhere but there. And that is how you get yourself on the pursuit on happiness.
When I was four or five years old, I asked my mother, “Why are all the big girls wearing so much makeup on their faces? Isn’t it willy willy bad?”( I pronounced the word “really” ” willy” when I was little so please don’t get confused that it’s a typo.) My mom sighed in sadness as she looked at the old magazines sprawled across the floor as we looked at them. “Well, some girls just like to wear makeup, even if it is bad. They just like to cover up their imperfections so they can look prettier.” I looked at the women on the cover of one of the magazines in disbelief. She had so much makeup on her face, that it looked like a whole new layer of unnatural skin growing, dominating the real skin beneath. She was wearing fake eyelashes and extremely heavy layers of lipstick, and incredulous amounts of pink blush on her cheeks. The eye shadow on her eyelids made her look like her makeup was done by a rainbow unicorn that had glitter as it’s blood. I didn’t like it at all. Not one bit.
The next day, my preschool teacher read the story “Beauty and the Beast” to us in circle time. I absolutely loved it. I liked the fact that they represented the prince in the form of a beast that had a kind heart who used to have an ugly one. In the folk versions, most of them represented Belle in a way that gave her a “damsel in distress” vibe. But in most of the stories that I read myself throughout the years, I read variations that gave her a rebellious outlook. Though her name meant beauty itself, she pushed herself to be more than just a pretty face. I liked that a lot.
I recently saw the live action Beauty and the Beast movie. But first I better explain the adventure that happened before. You see, my friend Jacqueline had invite me and 2 other friends to watch the movie with her in the movie theater. The problem was that my friend Subi was having the same plans, same movie, same place, same time. Since Jacqueline never had a birthday celebration with friends before, I decided to go to hers, and then hang out with Subi to get ice cream. Anyway, we all loved the movie. The way the director ( Bill Candon) depicted each character was incredible. Each personality, each costume, and each line of dialogue was well thought out and was put together into a masterpiece of art. One of my favorite parts of the movie was the way they reincarnated the story to fit the struggles of the way beauty is now defined. Belle (played by Emma Watson) was shown to be a very brave, rebellious, and smart young women, trying to find adventure in the great wide some where.
Every time I hear the word ugly, and the words he or she in the same sentence I want to curl up into a tiny ball and think about what just happened. I am literally an explosion of anger. When I speak I would have an edge in my tone. My fists would be clenched, my eyebrows furrowing. My eyes shoot a piercing look at the person who said the unfortunate sentence when they aren’t looking. It’s like a fire was lit underneath me. My friends always try to calm me down. But the flame lit under me was never tamed it continued to spread to the forest of my soul, no matter hard I try. Just because you have a pretty complexion doesn’t mean your heart is if you do such deplorable things like that. If you call someone ugly or not beautiful, don’t you even dare think you are. Because your heart definitely is not. A pretty face is nothing if you have an ugly heart. But an ugly face is nothing if you have a kind soul. My hair could look neater, my teeth could be whiter, my stomach could be flatter, my body could be more flexible. But those are a bunch of sentences with the word could. My life is dominated by “I can’s” not “I could look.” I want it to stay that way. Honestly, I just think we are all people, we are all just souls living our lives. We keep correcting the small flaws that make us special. We can’t waste our lives that way. You only live once right? So wipe out that makeup, put down your mirror, open the front door and walk, run, jump, ride, whatever you want and let your heart soar.
