The Movie Experience
Every two weeks for the past couple of months it seems I have seen a movie in its entirety. Several weeks ago it was The Mexican, a couple weeks ago it was The 'Burbs and tonight it was A Beautiful Mind (which was the most recent movie I have seen in a theater since The Royal Tenenbaums).
*3+ hour pause*
Err Ahhh! Where was I? I thought A Beautiful Mind was a really good movie, and it is one that I could analyze greatly even after only seeing it once. For those of you who haven't seen it, it was one of those movies that if you were to see it a second time, you would notice a lot more things about how characters interact with the protangonist (kind of like The Sixth Sense). Anyway, I did think it was well made and great overall, but there were two things I was expecting that didn't happen. Firstly, I was waiting for one of the main characters to die. Maybe Nash's wife? I don't know, I just expected that to happen. Secondly, I thought John Nash would come up with another fantastic mathematical theory at the end when he was aging, but it turned out to be something about how love is more important than everything else (it sounded like a thesis I would use for an essay in English). I thought it was going to be cool but it turned out to be heart warming and affectionate in the way I thought was to please the audience and win awards.
I was going to write a lot more three hours ago, but it is actually Friday night, and that is usually when information seems to drain from my brain, get lost or ignored, and I go to sleep early in the morning and wake up in the afternoon on Saturday to continue doing nothing. Fortunately, there is SOMETHING to do tomorrow night (tonight rather) and that is watch the Sharks game. Nathan came over to watch the Sharks game last night and I think he will do so again tonight. Hockey, and sports in general, are definitely more entertaining when watching with others (most of the time).
Sigh. I get into phases where I keep saying one phrase or portions of phrases over and over again, when I either don't have anything to say, when I'm confused, or whenever. Right now it is, "Do what now?" or "A who what now?" or a combination of any words in both of those sorted and repeated in anyway. I need to think before I say things.
Speaking of theme parks, I am terrified of roller coasters. That is, I always have been as long as I can remember and seldom do I get the chance to "overcome" any fears or otherwise hinderances I have to ride them. The only way this is accomplished is not only when I am at a theme park, but also when there is peer pressure. I guess the next time I'm ever in that situation where someone asks if I want to go on a ride I could respond, "If you want me to throw up on you, okay" (because giving into peer pressure is bad, kiddos). In reality, the next time where I DO have to go to a theme park is sometime this semester for Physics day. Although I am not taking physics, my math class requires me to go. I think I'll just spend the day following Amanda around and hopefully she won't want to go on any rides.... scary, scary rides!
Noah - 12:53 AM - 7 comments
Wednesday, March 27, 2002
Hurray for Judaism!
Due to complications with Jewish students who celebrate Passover, the Bio test has been moved to Monday. This means I not only do not have to review today (or for that matter write the take home essay) but also I get the weekend to review. Hurray!
Noah - 8:18 PM - 2 comments
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A dinosaur!"
I just had a high school planning conference with my counselor, Pat Conway. She gave me a copy of my transcript, stuff about tests and colleges, and unlike what David said to me upon leaving Math to go to the conference, Ms. Conway did not say that my future was bad or otherwise unsuccessful even though I have no idea what I want to do or what colleges I want to apply to. That meeting basically made me feel better. Bell.
Noah - 12:25 PM - 0 comments
okay.
First off, without me even saying anything, Brendan (some freshman guy) and Hoff have proved my point that they're idiots and should save themselves the embarrassment by not talking. Secondly, I have an in class essay next period. Last night I wrote out my intro paragraph and decided to write it on my notecard. It was an unusally thorough intro paragraph as it takes up more than an entire side of a notecard written in extremely small letters (I had to sharpen my pencil every few seconds). Is this cheating? Probably, but the point is that _I_ don't think it is cheating, so what does it matter? Probably a lot.
I have to do the essay in 10 minutes, and undoubtably the worst part of it is writing in pen. I should have brought one of those erasable pens, but it is too late for that now. I also should have developed my proof more, because I don't really know HOW I'm going to prove my thesis... ruh roh. I think it was something along the lines of: "Whether one is orphaned or guilty of commiting a crime, they are seen as an outcast under the eye of the English class system, but by valuing love and affection over wealth and manners one is able to redeem themselves of an otherwise unfortunate life." I know how to prove that orphans and convicts are seen as social outcasts, but the love and affection part is iffy, I mean, it is hard to find a specific quote to prove that... hard as in I don't feel like finding one.
I didn't finish anything I had to do last night. I think that is because I'm still working when it it 2am, and when I see that it's 2 I think, "Okay that's enough for me for today," and go to sleep. I wish I could go to sleep right now.
Monday, March 25, 2002
ONE FIVE THREE *BEEP BEEP BEEP*
Something that Nathan said to me yesterday that struck me as frightfully true is the fact that I portray two emotions in most social situations, one "on" and one "off." When I am "on" I am laughing or making jokes, and when I am "off" I am void of emotion, or just completely bland. What startled me was that I didn't realize this until he mentioned it, and because it is true (I think). I hide my emotions "well," and whether that is a good or bad thing, I have no idea. What I do know is that I am not completely void of emotion (I've been using that phrase too much) INSIDE even if that is how I look or sound so at the moment.
Noah - 10:45 AM - 110 comments
Saturday, March 23, 2002
Close eyes, breathe deeply... Relax
The weather last night couldn't have mirrored my feelings better, as the thunder crashed around my shallow mind and the rain poured through my muddled consciousness. It was a good thing I went to sleep before midnight, which is a rarity for me, because I was able to be awake in the morning and not feel tired throughout the entire day that was to come.
When I woke up I was emotionally worn out. I can't really describe how I felt, but it was neither joy, rage, nor sadness. It wasn't in between, but rather on another plane of subconscious emotion. Like I said, I can't describe it. I felt nothing, empty in a way, to the point where it was torture. Although I fell into this void of emotion upon waking, I slowly replenished my personality through humor. All emotions need to start somewhere, and for me emotions seem to manifest themselves while revolving around that of which makes me smile or laugh.
This week has been a struggle for me, heightened by being sick. It seems like a blur to me now, but I remember key moments with strong feelings attached to them. This week has been characterized by me doing everything wrong. It doesn't matter to me if I did anything right this week, because I must have done it right in the wrong way. If that doesn't make sense, it shouldn't. However, through all my wrongdoings, if I could relive this past week once more, and do everything right in the right way, I wouldn't do it.
Today has been filled with boredom, and I dislike writing blog posts when I'm bored. I feel that they make the tone of the post sound boring, and are thus not only boring to write, but also boring to read. I do not write posts just for myself, I write them for others as well. If they let others know about me, who I am, how I am feeling, then so be it, and I will try to make their reading experience more pleasant by not sounding like a drone.
Although I have registered a Livejoural account, I have not brought myself to posting in it. I suppose I am not willing to commit to Livejournal and abandon http://noah.nosuch.org/ and I am also intimidated by the evergrowing Livejournal community. Why did I register for a Livejournal account then? I don't know, just to say, "Yes, I DO have a Livejournal, but I don't use it," perhaps. I only read a couple of people's Livejournals anyway.
While I cannot express my emotions as eloquently as others can, or as openly as others can, I try to do so in a limited fashion on this blog. Anyway, I'm done with that for today.
*looks at the clock*
This is the time where I think about thinking about school so I can think about it tomorrow until 7pm, watch TV until midnight and then start it. But honestly, I usually get something done before 7... maybe something not important.
*one hour pause*
I forgot what I was going to say.
Noah - 9:44 PM - 5 comments
Thursday, March 21, 2002
All for nothing
In this week of intense emotions and sickness I have begun to dislike having a blog. It gives me an obligation to post about my life even if I don't want to, or don't feel like it. Thus, it just grows on to my already dangerously high anxiety and stress in an irritating manner. I don't know.
Noah - 11:18 AM - 3 comments
Monday, March 18, 2002
Come on now won't cha hey
I decided this morning that I wasn't going to go to school tomorrow. As predicted, my cold symptoms on Friday progressed into a normal flu for me. It starts with a sore throat, and then my nose gets clogged and stuffy. Soon it becomes both clogged and runny and I start to blow my nose excessively. I also develop a cough at this time. The sore throat goes away but from blowing my nose so much, the skin below my nose becomes irritated and it reddens to the point where it feels like it is burning and it stings. Oh yes, also because I blow my nose so much, I get nose bleeds (none yet). Slowly, but only after getting much worse, these symptons begin to disappear and I return to normal non-flu Noah, although that has yet to happen to me during this cold.
Luckily I have not had a fever because I have not experienced intense headaches or feelings of extreme coldness/nausea. This weekend was not that bad. I didn't have to do anything really. On second thought, I did have stuff to do but I didn't do it, and that is why my weekend wasn't that bad. In any case, I'm not going to school tomorrow. It isn't so much that I'm sick, which is my excuse, that I want to take a day off from school. Besides, I don't have Bio tomorrow, which is the only class where I really learn things in.
Today was basically the realization for me that I had a number of things I should have done over the weekend (although only for Spanish and English) that I didn't do. I did, however, do the one important thing which was collaborate with my group regarding the Project: Show de Yev. All four of us took responsibility of what we were going to say, and it ended up working out because we had developed a skeleton (outline) of the Show de Yev and shared it via e-mail. So, I think we did good on that, especially considering that we were one of two groups that went today, and five groups will go on Wednesday. Since those five groups have two extra days to prepare, I'm sure Se�ora Stroessner will not be so lenient on the grading (just to be fair because we had less time). Anyway, I don't have to worry about that anymore which is a relief.
Getting back to what I mentioned about my realization of the actual workload I had, it started in the first period of the day when we discussed Great Expectations. The fact of the matter is, I stopped reading the book pretty much in the beginning of the second stage. I do, however, understand the plot and a number of themes Dickens is trying to convey so I am able to participate somewhat in class discussions, but I am still reluctant because whenever I say something, Mrs. Kuiper asks me to elaborate on it. The thing is, I already said what I was going to say, and there is nothing more to it. So @*$%! Also, a lot of times when she is talking to the class, she stares at me which bothers me. Maybe I should look down at my desk when she does that, or even better, hold up a piece of paper saying, "Stop looking at me!" in big bold letters.
Math was the start of a new topic. We just took notes the entire period because I don't think Mr. Honig will be in class tomorrow. Intro Java... blah. I did the assignment for the day. For Bio we started a new unit, and in Spanish we did the Show de Yev. Apparently there was a Diario due as well as a section in Triangulo. I don't need to worry about those because I can do them today... well, tomorrow I guess. Finally in history we just talked about Camp Anytown the entire period.
So what does that leave me to do tomorrow? A few things that I know of, actually. I should really read Great Expectations. I need to do the Spanish Diario... and that is all I can think of right now. Hmm, it looks like I will have a lot of time to read, unless I wake up at 2pm.
Thus, I leave you with this:
Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
Noah - 10:28 PM - 2 comments
Friday, March 15, 2002
Usted necesita lograr un trabajo
I just finished three tests. They were math, java, and bio, respectively. The math test was not difficult. It was annoying, rather, because while I was taking it, people were constantly blowing their nose. No, it didn't sound like that. They were farting out of their nose, oozing mucus into their used tissue paper. Sniffling, coughing, sneezing, blowing, choking, squrting, splating... that room was irritating. I think I have a sore throat now because of it. Java wasn't really much of a test, as I explained in the previous post. It was just regurgitating a memorized program. The Bio test involved this regurgitation of memorized information as well when I explained everything that happens in the small intestine which involves nutrients being absorbed by the microvilli and transported to the bloodstream. I messed up some things on the test but I know I got some things right as well, so I didn't fail.
The thing to concentrate on now is my Spanish presentation on Monday. By presentation I mean fake talk show. Yev, Nathan, Chris, and I must act out an episode of "Show de Cristina" (a Spanish talk show). We decided that the problem that we are trying to resolve is that Chris has been living at home for 50 years, and his dad, played by Nathan, is angry and thinks it is time for his son to finally move out. Yev is the host, and I'm the people in the audience. You know, the people who say things like, "Yo need ta' get yo'self a job!"
It feels like school should be over already, but it's not. My throat is starting to hurt more now, and I'll probably get sick. On the brighter side, if I do get sick, then I will have the longest possible time to recover before another math/bio test so I'm not sick when I take it. I think I should keep track of how many days in between the times I get sick. So, when I have fully recovered from the fever, cold, or flu I am probably going to get this weekend, I will start counting days.
Noah - 12:05 PM - 3 comments
Monday, March 11, 2002
You know they actually have super markets called "Piggly Wiggly" in Mississippi?
The CD Drive on this computer is possessed... by evil. I don't know what happened to me in the past week because I didn't write it down. If I had written it down, for example, in this Blog, I would have been able to look back on it and remember it, thinking something like, "Oh yeah, I recall that happening," while simutaneously triggering many memories of that particular event. Doesn't that sound like a reasonable explanation of writing down pointless garbage about my life in this Blog? Sure, but what does that have to do with Intro Java?
(I need to work on transitions...)
BAM!
Intro Java. Mr. Kleinjans. Java. Quiz. Tomorrow. Memorization. Finally we will have something that is graded in this class. The reason I want to have this quiz is to get me an A in this class. What if we didn't have anything until the last day, and there was a test, and I blanked out on it? That would quite frankly suck. It isn't that I can regurgitate programs from my brain just yet, but I can memorize them and be able to do so tomorrow and on Friday. Whee! Memorization is a useful skill, and while I can't memorize things the first time I see them, I can teach myself to memorize them in my free time. Of course, this takes some time and effort, and unfortunately it is the effort part that I am not willing to commit to. As a result, I don't remember terminology in classes like Biology (hey, that rhymes) and I can't participate actively in class discussions nor write good "Give it to me baby"'s (a little quiz thing that we started doing in the beginning of class last week... basically to test you on what you have just learned to see if you're getting it... so far Mr. Nik hasn't actually collected them but I think he will today). Perhaps I should read over my notes for Bio and be prepared this time (or at least MORE prepared). Oh yes, I have a history test today. Painful memorization to that. I crammed for it this morning until 2am and then played NHL 99' until 3. Good use of my time, no? I regret sleeping in until 2pm and not really waking up until 4 yesterday. That wasn't my initial plan, but it just happened.
Speaking of waking up in the mornings, my dad got really mad at me for not doing so today. I try to wake up, but I'm so tired (maybe because I stayed up until 3 playing NHL 99'?) and he gets pissed saying that it messes up his day. He goes on and on for the first five minutes in the car and then the rest of the way is completely silent (unless I fall asleep and he yells at me to wake up). I wonder what rides to school will be like when Kaija goes to Gunn next year. The last time I went to school with her was in elementary school for 2 years (I think) and she made me really late everyday. Perhaps it will be the opposite next year as she gets up earlier than me sometimes and her school starts 25 minutes later (and takes less than 5 minutes to walk to).
Bio next. Intro Java almost over. I didn't have time to review anything for anything. Well, I did, but I didn't do anything. I think in Bio, I understand most of the main themes but I don't know much about the specifics. Hopefully I can fix that. I'm out.
Noah - 11:18 AM - 3 comments
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
Look at those dark clouds
Cloudy, Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy, Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy and Rainy, Sunny and Rainy, Sunny and Cloudy? The weather is indeed fairly odd today. The fire alarm went off in English after I got my essay back. We went outside and started walking toward the field when the alarm stopped, and we went back to the class. That was fun.
About my essay:
When I wrote it, it was all in present tense. It took me about an hour to type it one Sunday afternoon and I printed it that night. However, before I printed it I decided to change everything in present tense to past tense. Afterall, the stories I was using as evidence weren't happening while I was writing the paper. Anyway, when I got my essay back, Mrs. Kuiper had changed all the verbs in past tense back to present tense. This doesn't make me angry, because I got it right the first time and I doubt it will have any affect on my grade. It does irritate me though because I changed something that is right to something that is wrong.
Mr. Honig decided to not teach math today and instead he told us as much as he could about his life in 60 minutes. He told us all the major events regarding his life starting with history of his grandparents up until when he became a teacher at Gunn. I thought it was very interesting and I learned a lot about him. I also paid attention the entire time.
Spanish and History, blah blah blah blah. In class essay tomorrow in English... that should be interesting. I wonder what ideas I will come up with. I know what my topic is, but I haven't came up with a thesis or even evidence. I guess that is what I have to do today. I don't really feel like writing anything much though because I'll just have to write it again in class tomorrow.
On another note, after writing this post for the first time, it got deleted. I forgot to copy it and so I had to write it again from memory. The weird thing is even though I'm writing more or less the same information, I'm writing it with different words in a different way. Actually, that is rather interesting. Anyway, this is why I'm paranoid about copying/saving things on the computer.
Noah - 4:52 PM - 8 comments
What's the deal with 'ogens?
Last night I was thinking about signing up for a LiveJournal account. LiveJournal is essentially a free network of weblogs. It is similar to Blogger, except more community based. Then I was thinking, if I register, should I demolish noah.nosuch.org and use LiveJournal? No. I don't necessarily like Blogger better than LiveJournal, but I like it better to have MY Blog using Blogger tools hosted by Alex (Mr. Nosuch) instead of a LiveJournal blog. There are many reasons for this, some being that it is very convenient for posting, looking at (loads much faster which is great if you have a 56k connection at home), editting, and so on. Also, I occastionally get flames from people or family members such as Mia! Whee!
I am thinking of the day to come right now. If I don't say anything or make any sudden movements, is it possible that I won't be called on? The key is not to make eye contact with the instructor (this doesn't always work). I feel like sitting in the corner of the room and letting the day go by without me, and I believe that is what I will do.
"This is either going to totally confuse you or you will absorb it and love it." Ah yes, Ms. Bruegger is giving a lecture about Flash, and while I am one of the year students for webpage design, I am not obligated to listen/pay attention. The end.
Noah - 9:29 AM - 0 comments
Monday, March 04, 2002
I'll quarantine YOUR subnet
I started to write a post during Intro Java but I ran out of time because I had to work on a program. I turned in the sheet that says what classes I want to sign up for next year this morning. My schedule for next year should look something like this:
American Classics / Mythology
Econ (summer school) / Holocaust
Physics 1A
AB Calc AP
Compsci AP
Biotech
For one semester I will have a prep, and for the other semester I will have two. I suspect it will be about the same amount of work as this year, except without Spanish.
Last night and this morning I worked on stuff for English, Math, Bio, and Spanish. I have to write a reading log for tomorrow about Great Expectations which will involve me having to read the book. Apparently the in class essay is on Thursday not Tuesday. For math I studied for a quiz. We had a sub today but we took the quiz anyhow. It wasn't that bad. I got a problem wrong as a result of doing something that Mr. Honig says everyone always makes a mistake on. I knew how to avoid it but I didn't realize I had made a mistake until after I turned the quiz in. In Bio Mr. Nik had to go over everything we were supposed to learn during the two days Mrs. Anton was substituting. I believe Dr. Snapp's class is far ahead of us now. Spanish was Spanish as usual. I don't know if we go to the language lab tomorrow and I think I will just assume that we aren't going... so I'm not worried.
There is an assembly tomorrow which causes school to end an hour later than normal. How I loathe assmeblies!
This webpage is boring. It needs style. Give me ideas, people.
Noah - 3:50 PM - 7 comments
Saturday, March 02, 2002
"The person who 'accidently' put a little girl into the washing machine isn't a bright person either."
Recaping what happened in the past two days... I recall not turning in my reading log for English because Mrs. Kuiper didn't collect them. Apparently there is an in class essay on Tuesday? Jolly good? Mr. Nik is at some conference thing so we had Mrs. Anton as a sub for Bio... something about doing a table about the digestive system... due on Monday? I took a Spanish quiz and a History quiz today... Spanish stuff, math quiz on Monday. Hmm, I don't know.
WARNING! THE FOLLOWING MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH SPORTS:
I fell asleep watching the first period of the Sharks game against Tampa Bay this afternoon. I woke up at 7:45pm... the Sharks lost 4-2 ending their 7 game winning streak... #@*$!
Ignoring the fact that since this post consists of incoherent rambling caused by being tired and that I should probably stop here, it seems like weekends are getting progressively shorter. Maybe I should have gone to sleep earlier. Too late.
Noah - 2:26 AM - 2 comments
