Speaking Chinese Made Easy

P.S. Look at my new post over at my new blog: Why I Write/NaNoWriMo and for Lilly, who is doing NaNo with me, it might be a good idea to visit Inspiration Buddy throughout the month. :)

This is for all us coffee-drinking Krills.

This one goes out to my new little nephew!

So this is the same song by Elton John (also from Moulin Rouge). I've been listening to a bit of this artist's work and I've got to say, she's pretty good. That and once in a while it's nice to hear someone you've never heard before.

Painting with the Computer

A Harry Potter Summer

No one's going to see this for a few days, at least, and that will probably be only Heidi. Oh well. I just thought I'd tell ya about what I'm currently doing this summer.

I'm preparing for the awesomeness that is the FINAL HARRY POTTER MOVIE.

Yeah, so I'm going to reread the series, rewatch the movies, rewatch the musical, and replay the games. I am currently beginning the fourth book right now, so that's fun. Once all this madness is over with, I'll be able to get back to reading books non-Potter related. So August is definitely going to be a fun time.

So Heidi, whachya doin'? Or Katie, for that matter?

'My Soul' by Jacob Wylde

Jacob Wylde from Sound Safari on Vimeo.

Do you guys remember that remix of mary poppins? No, not the scary mary one. The one that takes bits of speech throughout the movie and makes it into techno music. Pretty cool. Well, it was made by a guy called Pogo. And I found the above video (along with more of his cool techno mixes) on his website: www.pogomix.net
You likey?

Writing Prompt: Show us what you're doing this summer!

I WANT YOU TO POST

Hey guys! It's been a while, huh? Well, I have good news: I found my camera! This means I will be able to post pictures of my summer adventures for you guys to see! :D Since I have scads of free time now, I'll be posting more here, and I'd appreciate it if you'd check back bi-weekly and maybe even post about your own summer adventures?

Suggestions: Lilly, I'd love to hear about the books you've been reading and how summer school goes;
Katie, you should tell us about taking care of Lola and Farley;
Kelly, you are great at finding cool new music and funny/lovely internet stuffs. Please share!

SECOND NOTE: If you go on Amy's facebook page, there is no link to the study abroad blog she is writing for, so I went through the business of finding it: http://blog.studyabroad.wisc.edu/summer-2011 Check it out!

So as I was looking through the documents on my computer...

Kelly Krill
4th hour
Analysis Paper
Rough Draft

It’s by nature that humans are people pleasers; even if they say they aren’t, he or she may secretly go out of their way to put on a front accepted by society. In other cases we go out of our way to be different and stand out. It’s built into humans from small infancy need to please, be accepted, and become noticed. The things we do may seem wild or out of the ordinary. This being said, while both characters had their own struggling identity issues, Rowdy his urge to fight the world and Jordan her recklessness, the two share the common habit of hiding behind another face.
Meet Rowdy, the problematic, struggling teenager who has a knack for getting easily frustrated. Said frustration immediately leads to violence whether it be vocal and/or physical. [“‘What’s wrong with you?’ he yelled. ‘Everything!’ Rowdy yelled back. Rowdy fought everybody. He fought boys and girls. Men and women. He fought stray dogs. Hell, he fought the weather. He’d throw wild punches at the rain.” (pg. 18, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)] It’s a common thing for someone who deals with a lot of emotional pain to try to hide it with a mask of malice. He or she refuses to show weakness, for fear it may destroy them. Rowdy’s mental mind set is to not show any sign of a soft spot inside. His friend Junior succumbs to his emotions and hormones and is constantly being beat up because of it. Rowdy knows that to stay in one piece on the reservation, he needs to be has hard as rock. Sometimes he finds himself slipping up, letting his true self peek through, before impulsively slamming shut and spitting out some profane action or retort. [“‘I ain’t crying,’ he said. ‘You’re crying.’ I touched my face. It was dry. No tears yet. ‘I can’t remember how to cry,’ I said. That made Rowdy sort of choke. He gasped a little. And more tears rolled down his face. ‘You’re crying,’ I said. ‘No, I’m not.’ ‘It’s okay; I miss my sister, too. I love her.’ … I reached out and touched Rowdy’s shoulder. Big mistake. He punched me. Well, he almost punched me. He threw a punch but he missed.” (pg. 210, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)]
Jordan Baker, champion golf player and old money, finds herself a reckless driver. She plays a game of pretend during her time, stringing lies and cheating. [“Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men, and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body.” (pg. 58, The Great Gatsby)] On the outside she is beautifully arrogant, in the way she holds herself, to the way to treats the others around her. Her chin is tilted up with superiority in m cost cases. [“At any rate, Miss Baker’s lips fluttered, she nodded at me almost imperceptibly, and then quickly tipped her head back again-the object she was balancing had obviously tottered a little and given her something of a fright. Again a sort of apology arose to my lips. Almost any exhibition of complete self-sufficiency draws a stunned tribute from me.” (pg. 9, The Great Gatsby)] It comes from the old money. What people expect her to be, and what she shows them.
Both Jordan and Rowdy refuse to let people in and show them what they’re really like. She hides herself behind a veil of arrogance while he has built himself a wall constructed out of unyielding bricks.

***

So Kelly... um, what?

OMG TUMBLR

It's basically a website where you post, view, and reblog photos. LOOK AT MY PROFILE!

Soo....how you guys doin'?

You might be Heidi if...

You've discovered the Urn of Sacred Ashes,

Killed several demons,

and saved Ferelden from the Blight.

Or, you know... stayed up late every night for the past month playing Dragon Age: Origins.

***

For real though, I think this is more interesting than a couple pictures of me smiling and standing next to people (which seems to be the only kind of pictures I have recently). Better than nothing?

Cutest grandparents ever!

I am putting together the scrapbook for Grandpa & Grandma's 50th wedding anniversary party, and here are some of the cute pictures I found!

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THEM??? 

Life Goes On!!

I forgot how to put videos on here, so here's a link to it. Listen to it, and sing along. And listen to it again...

Spending Time with Amy at Perc Place!

Strawberry smoothies are delicious...

I suppose It's my turn...

DOLPHIN!

How Kelly is...well, Kelly.

1. I'm obsessed with food and my weight. I draw/take pictures of what I eat, look at food blogs. I love to bake cookies and other nummy treats. But I'm also extremely paranoid with my weight with what I eat, how much I eat, and if I'm exercising enough to balance it all out.

2. I could spend hours looking at books and art supplies. (Oh, and tumblr. That's currently my new obsession.) They're the two things I love most, reading and drawing.

3. In the comforts of my home, I don't wear pants. (Oh yeah, check out those sex legs!)

4. Food items that are always around the house that I basically live off of: ramen, hot chocolate, lattes, and oatmeal. The "college diet" as people tell me.

5. I am the biggest procrastinator in the world. Like this post, I put everything off to the last second. I never do my homework at home and always finish it in the classes beforehand. Recently I had a paper due for English. The day it was due I gave the teacher a note saying the Internet wasn't working. That night I stayed up til one-thirty in the morning writing the whole paper. Yet I manage to get all A's in my classes. I'm just that awesome.

6. My idea of a perfect evening consists of me rolled up in my blankets and pillows on the couch eating ramen with scrambled eggs (yes, ramen with scrambled eggs, my comfort food), watching (or playing) Harry Potter, Twilight, and/or Pirates of the Caribbean.

7. I have an especially cryptic sense of humor. ("You know what's funny? Filled graves.")

8. I love books and movies that are able to make me cry. There's something really special about a piece of fictional work that's able to stir such emotion. Books that have made me cry: New Moon, Breaking Dawn, and some of the Harry Potter books. Movies that have made me cry: Up, Toy Story 3, The Notebook, Click, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Mulan II, Bridge to Terabithia, and numerous others.



9. I love Pixar, Disney, and Dreamworks animated films just as much as horror and action. So I blubbered like a baby during the beginning of Up but was able to watch a black guy get his limbs and head twisted around and broken during Saw III.

10. My favorite sent is coffee although it is probably my least favorite taste. I put the Krill sisters to shame... D:

11. To keep happy and mentally healthy I have to continue to read, write, and draw. Each increases my mood a considerable amount.

12. I love being able to speak French. I geek out whenever I see or hear something in French and can understand it. I also really like foreign films like Amelie, The Orphanage, and Pan's Labyrinth.

13. Nothing makes me happier than my family. Even if we're just sitting around staring at each other with our fingers up our butts (-lol, Moma) that makes me feel so much better. I grew up in a house full of people who were constantly doing interesting things but now that the majority of them are gone, the house feels incredibly empty and it's one of the most saddening things in my life. I want to hang out with you guys, more! :O

Simon's Cat!

Remember this little guy?


Well, I was on tumblr and saw a picture of someone's tattoo and thought it was really funny and cute:

What happened on Thanksgiving 2009??? THIS DID...

What Makes a Lilly

In no particular order. :0)

1.) I bite my nails. I know, a very bad habit, but it's very hard to break. I even tried growing my nails out, and I hated it - I kept getting dirt under my nails! Anyway, I wash my hands a lot and keep my nails super mega short to prevent hangnails and such. (Don't judge me...)

2.) I like to wear shoes that are thin, and cloth-like. No seeable plastic at all - that way I feel the ground beneath me, and not just rubber soles. The closer I am to the ground, the better. I would probably die in platform shoes.

3.) I love to look up words I don't know and then write them down in my sketchbook so I'll never forget them! It's funny, sometimes I learn new words I've never heard before, and afterwards I start seeing them everywhere! (Example: "meticulously" - it's everywhere now!)

4.) Decorating things or adding my own personal touches to something otherwise ordianry is fun. Oh, we're going on a car trip? Might as well surround myself in all my stuff by my window seat. Ooh, my desk is going to be moved into that corner? Time to tape up some pictures! If I'm going to be around places often, I might as well make the space my own! (Knick-knacks and other whodads are great in helping with this "Lilly-izing" task.)

5.) I love to learn. Everyday my friends, acquinatances, or simply just people who want to talk to anybody who will listen will say how they hate this class or that teacher. I love knowledge, and teachers are people too. There is just so much to learn in this world and only so much to to learn it in, you know?

6.) Jones Soda is delicious, and it's probably my favorite soda. Especially the green apple flavor. Mm...
7.) I love literature! I read no particular genre, just eager to learn new writing stragies and obtain more knowledge. There's nothing better than a good story!

8.) My biggest pet peeve: That time in between finishing a book and waiting to go to the library for another one. *shudder* I remember the time I finished Still Life with Crows, but I had to wait a day or two for Brimstone. It was some of the worst few hours of my life.

9.) I'm friendly to everyone. I'm sort of a social butterfly at school, depending on my mood that day. I make my friends laugh and vise versa, and I have good relationships with my teachers. If I find a person I simply don't like, I ignore them. Treat people the way you wish to be treated, yo.


10.) I love colorful things. Not particularily showy, but things that make the world around me a little brighter and my day a little happier. As you may have heard, recently my beautiful sunny watch broke, so I had to get a new one. I now have a gorgeous blue watch that makes me feel like I'm carrying a piece of the sky around on my wrist.

Have a great day!

Things that make Katie.... well, Katie!

1. Staple food items are taco dip and orange juice.  I can't live without them.

2. My biggest pet peeve? When the bottom of my jeans get wet.  That's why I always tuck my pants into my (waterproof) boots.

3. I love wearing holiday socks.  Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day!

4. I like waking up early (gasp!)  I just love the feeling of knowing that I have the whole day ahead of me. 

5. I write in my planner every single day.  That way, I can look back and see what I did on any given day.

6. When I'm out of money, the one thing I'll still splurge on is coffee.  Fancy coffee drinks, like vanilla lattes. Mmmm...

7. I MAKE MY BED EVERY DAY!

8. "To-Do" lists and post-it notes line my desk area.  That being said, I have to write everything down because I have a terrible memory.

9. KITTENS!  I love them.  I want to be surrounded by them at all times.  If you want to cheer me up, show me a kitten.

10. The reason I like working with kids is because they make me feel young and they make me laugh.  (I don't know if that's a particular "Katie" trait, but thought it worthy to include).

Maybe now you know Katie a little bit better :)

Friday Fun

Could you have asked for a cheesier title? I almost forgot it was my day to post! Well, here's something for all you crazy cat lovers:

I have a tumblr now and can sit for hours in front of the screen looking at all the awesome/funny pictures on the website. But beware, there are lots of HP7 Part 2 spoilies. LIKE THIS:



So are you all excited, or are you all excited? (Not counting Amy because I know she's not into the Potter world as most.) Here's something the whole family of fatties will enjoy! Food!

Doesn't that just look so gross and amazing? And for dessert you can have some brownies. I'm having a heart attack just looking at 'em...


That's all, folks!

I believe Thursday is my day...

...which means Lola will be involved in some form or another! Since I have been SUPER DUPER busy with school, I find it appropriate to share with ya'll a "digital essay" that I had to complete recently for my English class. Enjoy! (disclaimer: It's super cheesy!)

A Few Common Misconceptions

Common misconceptions: various fallacious, misleading, or otherwise flawed ideas that are widely around the globe thought to be true.

Here are a few I thought you'd all find interesting.

-George Washington did not have wooden teeth. According to a study of Washington's four known dentures by a forensic anthropologist from the University of Pittsburgh, the dentures were made of gold, hippopotamus ivory, lead, and human and animal teeth (including horse and donkey teeth).

-There is no evidence that Vikings wore horns on their helmets.

-It is commonly claimed that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the Moon. This is false. None of the Apollo astronauts reported seeing any specific man-made object from the Moon, and even earth-orbiting astronauts can barely see it, but city lights are easily visible on the night side of Earth from orbit.

-The claim that a duck's quack does not echo is false, although the echo may be difficult to hear for humans under some circumstances.

-Bats are not blind. While most bat species do use echolocation to augment their vision, all bat species have eyes and are capable of sight.

-Sharks can actually suffer from cancer.

...And so on and so forth. If you want to see dozens more facts, here's the complete list.

The many faces of Farley-child

HEY PEOPLE!

Back in the day, Tuesdays on the sister blog were reserved for cute pictures of animals.  And while not all of these are exactly "cute," enjoy the many faces of my cat nonetheless.

 "You're getting a lump of something for Christmas... and it's not coal."

"I just pooped myself!"

"I see fish"

 "OMG BIRDS"

 "ZZZZzzz I'm fat ZZZzzzzz"

"Okay. Pretend to sniff box.  Good, good... I think you fooled her!"

 "La di dah di dah!  Licked all the shoes, now what?"

 "I hate Scott Walker"

 "MOM I DON'T WANNA PRACTICE!"

 "Oh yeah.  Ohhhhhh yeah.  OH YEAH THAT FEELS NICE."

"Mmmm... uh huh.... slurp!"

 "I don't deserve this!"  (Um, YES you do, Farley).

"Dang it you caught me!"