How Do I Love Thee, Oh, Let Me Count the Ways

In honor of my newfound goal to read/watch everything inspired by Broadway musicals or that inspired Broadway musicals, today I watched the 1967 film adaptation of the Fosse musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I found it to be absolutely precious, and seeing it live is now on my list.

In my curiosity, I decided to watch some videos on the current revival of How to Succeed which is currently starring everyone's favorite wizard, Daniel Radcliffe. Who knew this man who grew through his awkward years onscreen was also a fantastic singer and dancer?! Apparently the producers of How to Succeed and the producers of his previous Broadway debut in the revival of Equus. Anyway, needless to say I loved it and now wish to get on down to the most famous avenue in America to see it live.

This spawned an idea for a blog that might actually spark interest from the general public who so love my pictoral numbers. Here's a list (with images) of my favorite stars on/from Broadway and why.

Since I already discussed it here, I'll just start with Daniel Radcliffe.

 

Aside from the previously mentioned incredible voice and talent to dance (which are essential elements in my search for a husband) he is also constantly described as down to earth, remains out of the negative eye of the media for the most part, has the accent necessary to raise children who would have the proper accent to sing The Wall, and, oh yeah, he's beautiful. So really, I love him because I would marry him.

Then there's my favorite, Kristin Chenoweth.

Not only does this tiny little diva have the most beautiful powerhouse voice, but she dazzles in the higher octaves like none other I've heard (and I sat through a Frederica von Stade concert last spring). Even at 42 this powerhouse continues to be phenomenal and I fully intend on watching the upcoming commedy Good Christian Belles simply due to her presence in the show.

Then there's the woman who's gaining in the ranks on my list, Lea Salonga.

She is living proof that Filipinos do everything better. I just stated to the bestie that she turns every show she touches to gold. Apparently she is best known for her work in Miss Saigon; however, I prefer to think of her as the flawless interpretation of not only Ephonine but also Fantine in the anniversary concerts from Les Miserables. Listening to her perform the epic number Memory from the classic, Cats, also sends shivers down my spine. It might interest you to know that she also voiced two Disney princesses in terms of musical performances, Jasmine and Mulan (despite the fact that Mulan was technically not a princess since she was not the daughter of the emperor, but I digress). The more I listen to her voice, the more I challenge Chenoweth's position at the top of my list.

Then there's Matthew Morrison.

Unfortunately, I must admit that my first acknowledgement of his existence came from watching the pilot episode of Glee and determining that he is the next James Marsden in terms of middle-aged obsessions. However, as time wears on, I realize there is no challenging Marsden's presence at the top of that list. This doesn't mean that Morrison isn't an incredible vocalist as well as an impressive dancer. I much enjoy his duets with Chenoweth on Glee when she guest stars (at which point I tend to scream from overexcitement). I mostly include him here due to the fact that this list was lax on males.

The ever beautiful, yet tragically unavailable Jonathan Groff.

Most notably known for his role in the controversial Spring Awakening opposite the ever popular Lea Michelle (whom I will discuss later). Again, tragically my first experience with him as a vocalist came through Glee, but I must admit that I have done my homework on him since my first sighting of his beautiful face. His smoky vocals could drive anyone wild (and apparently they do). Again, mostly he was mentioned to add to the male population of this list in case the only readers are females who want to see some pretty faces.

Then the one that I always overlook for some reason, Sutton Foster.

This woman is the epitome of musical theater. Incredible precision, excellent pronunciation, and a look that screams Broadway. I found her through listening to Thoroughly Modern Millie tunes which I believe to be her most notable work, however I think you'll find others disgaree with that statement. Originally discovered in the chorus of Les Mis, she became the replacement for Ephonine in the national tour. She is currently starring in the revival of Anything Goes (which is on my list of films to see as soon as I can find it somewhere in town).

As for those who I find to be mediocre, I'd like to list Idina Menzel who takes on rolls that I find to be abover her ability seeing as the power behind her precision is lacking in that of those who I have mentioned here. Lea Michelle also falls under this category due to her whine. Initially, I found both of these women to be extraordinary, so please do not think that I mean by any stretch of the imagination that they are undeserving of the roles they have played. I just find that they fall lower on the list than these mentioned above.

To end this novel, I'd like to leave you with three videos of the same song done by three performers mentioned here. I'll let you determine which you think did it best, but you should know that Salonga takes the cake here in my opinion.

On My Own - Les Miserables:

Lea Michelle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kbzy8E5cdM&feature=related

Sutton Foster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SWW0mCrocQ&feature=related

Lea Salonga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcOZJfnThw

And just for kicks here's a fantastic video splicing two songs from my two very favorite musicals (Billy Elliot and Wicked, respectively) done by Salonga that I ran across recently and found to be a perfect pairing in terms of theme. You may agree or disagree; it makes me no difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRfR8RCaEvU

Witticism of the Day: Like it or not, eventually you become the person who raised you, be it a little or a lot.



Summer Plans

It's weird for me to be discussing summer plans without having anything set. For the first time I suppose I have to be a grown up and take care of business. I've been trying to do that for the past two days. While productivity has been fantastic, I'm ready to do something more summery.

So I went to the library today. Now, I despise this town, but it has the greatest public library ever. When I move elsewhere it will have to be somewhere with an incredible public library! In an attempt to be a grown up college graduate, I ventured into the adult fiction section (after selecting a book from the teen section...baby steps) and couldn't find anything to my liking until I came across something I've heard of but never read: The Phantom of the Opera. Then I started thinking...where is Les Mis?!

Therefore, my newest goal has been realized. I am going to attempt to read every novel which inspired a Broadway musical or which was written after the musical was created. Fortunately I have a head start on this. I read Wicked two years ago. Did I enjoy it? Not actually. It took me forever to make it through that one. The musical is definitely much better than the novel it's based off of. Today I picked up Phantom and Les Mis and will work my way through these over the next few weeks. I think the next one will be the Brothers Grimm version of Beauty and the Beast. Obviously this will not be the version seen in the Disney film which is the version adapted for the stage, but I will not let it stand in the way of my goal!

Apparently our library doesn't have the fairy tales on the shelf, so I may have to choose something else in the meantime, but I'll keep you posted on my quest to accomplish this goal. Perhaps I'll try some nonfiction on the murderesses that inspired Chicago.

Witticism of the Day: Broadening your horizons is essential sometimes.

So Close, Yet So Far

You know, sometimes I seriously feel like my life is a song from Cabaret:

"All the odds are in my favor. Something's bound to begin. It's gotta happen sometime. Maybe this time I'll win."

Other days I have complete mental breakdowns and struggle to focus on my to-do list. Lots of things aren't going exactly my way these days, and my first reaction to these things is just to shut down and curl up in the fetal position and complain about everything that's not what I expected it to be.

Then there are days like today when nothing especially exciting happens, but I'm reminded of my place in this world and my hope is renewed. While listening to the radio on the way to class I heard the DJ telling his Easter weekend story about how most of his plans got rearranged from what he was expecting. Then he spit out Proverbs 16:9 and I was completely humbled and changed my perspective.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

So even if I may not be able to fit into the spectacular dress I want to this weekend and I can't control the behaviors of other people and no one has hired me yet I know that regardless of what I have planned for my life God is going to put me exactly where He wants me, and that's more reassuring than having my plans turn out my way because obviously I can only see the near future whereas the Lord can see my entire life in the blink of an eye. I hope this blesses you the way it blessed me today.

P.S. Marry me Ed Westwick.

Witticism of the Day: Have patience. Not original, true, but it's important to understand the weight of these words, so I'll repeat them to you.

You Look Like a Spastic Starfish, Girl!

Here's a list of things I swear by and why. Enjoy.

• Mascara: I am rarely awake in the mornings. Once this stuff is on, I don't look less like I just rolled out of the grave to go to class.
• Microsoft Excel: This is my best friend 99.9% of my days. If I need to organize something (and I do love organization) I just build a spreadsheet around it.
• Food Chopper: Ok, so it's really more like a food processor, but it totally chops my onions in way less time than it takes me to do it by hand. While we're on this subject, I also swear by my
• Pink Crate and Barrel Chopping Board: Because it's pink.
• Sugar-Free Jello: This stuff is amazing. It's sweet. It jiggles. It's super for any diet!
• High Heels: I have trouble walking (and much more trouble dancing) in flats these days. Plus, heels are so much prettier AND they make my legs look like they're not stumpy little things.
• Hulu: Even though it's spazzing out on my computer right now, it's amazing for watching almost everything I missed on tv this week (thank you CW for preventing this luxury and making me watch twice as many commercials).
• The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack: Yes, that does show my age. If you have to look it up, then you missed out on a childhood on the computer. So many games of value despite their dated graphics and lame plotlines.

That's all I have today. Yes, I cheesed out and made another stupid list. Eventually I'll have something that sparks my anger and you'll get to hear all about how you should be doing something.

Witticism of the Day: If at first you don't succeed, ask someone else for help. If they fail too, ask an expert. If they fail as well, it's design error.

Spring is in the Air

I know it's been a while and you're expecting something great, but all I have is one of my infamous lists.

Things That Have Made Me Smile Recently:

• Currently: The parking lot of my complex up in celebration on account of our team just winning a national championship!
• Currently: Being able to say years down the road that I was here the first time in history such a championship was achieved.
• Sunday: Standing in the choir loft in front of a congregation of 3000+ and watching as they slowly rose one at a time to worship the Lord. (There were also chills and tears associated with this.)
• Constantly: Listening to the Billy Elliot soundtrack.
• Friday: Having my daddy surprise me by coming to my banquet at which I received an award for my dedication to the performing arts.
• Today: Boys doing cute things like folding napkins into flowers and not noticing that girls notice it.
• Today: Blushing at the dinner table in reference to a certain booooooooy.
• Yesterday: Discovering Chips Challenge online http://www.webcc.psumaps.com/ (AH!)
• Tuesday: Receiving random and unexpected "mad money" in the mail from my grandmother.
• Sunday: Planning the most juvenille college graduation party on the face of the planet!

That's all I've got for now.

Witticism of the Day: If you're trying to seem mysterious and ellusive, make sure you don't take it too far and end up being ignored. I recommend being a vicious flirt instead.

Welcome Back Lisa

I know it's been a while, so I must beg your forgiveness right off the bat (and by the way, just because it was on my nerves all morning as it was repeatedly flashed on a screen, yours is not a possessive term therefore it should NEVER be spelled as YOUR'S!!!! Come on people, get some grammar).

I don't have much to discuss or even a theme that's been running through my head that I can share with you all. I've been incredibly busy this past week and the week before.

I saw Mamma Mia three times this week (although I should have volunteered for positions outside of the theater two of those nights because once is really more than enough in my opinion.) Let's discuss why I don't think this is an appropriate show.

• The music of ABBA was never meant to be turned into a musical (unlike American Idiot which Green Day fully intended to be turned into such). I find that most of the show thoroughly confuses me as to the interpretation of the song with the surrounding dialogue. It feels like more often than not the show is a bunch of unrelated dialogue and the actors sporadically burst into a disco number just for kicks. And while we're on the topic of random disco numbers, did anyone else ever notice just how many of ABBA's songs have innuendo hidden behind every word or did the creators of the show just decide it would work to their advantage to spin the lyrics this way?
• The entire premise of the show is that the mother was so loose in her youth that she had escapades with three men resulting in the lack of knowledge of who the father of her child is. Now, I know this is one of those things that popular culture has taught us all to accept as something that happens all the time, but I refuse to accept this. It makes my skin crawl. Such things were not meant to be observed outside of marriage and I'm pretty sure the script never so much as hinted at the fact that she was married to all three within the course of what I'm assuming had to be just a few weeks, so I'm pretty sure my disdain with this major detail of the show has a firm foundation. And you may be going...gracious, this girl is so uptight. You'd be incorrect in that assumption; I simply have a moral base. You must be lacking some.
• I saw many young children being brought to the performances as a special treat for them. While I am an avid supporter of raising our children to love musical theater, I believe this is a terrible choice for one to expose such a young mind to. Not only are the lyrics slightly to fully dirty, the choreography at points was also equally raunchy. While the music is fun, I don't really think you want your children to be singing some lyrics like "Voulez Vous?" or "Lay all your love on me" etc.

That's just one lady's opinion though.

Witticism of the Day: Shoot for the stars; you never know how high you'll land. Lame, yes. True, yes.

What About Love?

I'm sure some of you are thinking I'm a sap, so of course I'll be needing to post a Valentine's blog about all the wonders that surround the holiday. However, as I am tragically single (or thankfully, depending on your point of view), I have decided to instead share with you some helpful tips for planning around the holiday for different sorts and share some tips for what to do and what not to do.

Here's how you plan the perfect unconventional and therefore ideal Valentine's date if you happen to be in a relationship.

• DO NOT go to a restaurant the weekend surrounding or the day of. Waiting around outside is not ideal in anyone's mind and this is indeed quite unoriginal.
• DO NOT go see a movie. This is for people who don't actually have anything to say to each other. It's good for a first date, perhaps, to avoid awkwardness, but for V-Day you need to try a little harder to converse with this person. After all, if you're in a relationship, you must enjoy conversing with this person!
• DO NOT buy flowers. They're expensive, and they die rapidly. Unless you want this as a sign of your relationship, I suggest you try Hobby Lobby and get some silk flowers which are significantly cheaper and also last much longer (unless you're like me and you take the flowers off the rods that are supporting them and move them to a vase for decoration and then your sister tells you you're the only person she's ever know to actually allow fake flowers to wilt).
• DO NOT buy jewelry. I'm sure you're scratching your head at this one. "All girls want jewelry as gifts!" False. If you're going to buy jewelry, it should be a random gift not given for a specific holiday. That's how you know thought was put into it rather than..."Oh, I suppose I should get something for the lady I'm dating. Perhaps I'll join the ranks of the other thoughtless men this year and flock to the nearest jewelry store because expensive gifts equal thoughtful gifts." This is not true.
• DO put thought into your gift. I think this is pretty obvious. I think my "favorite" gift I received for this holiday was a gift card. How...thoughtful? NO. It doesn't take funding to come up with something that will make your date cry (happy tears...this is of course the goal of a gift). All you need is a little bit of insight into what your significant other really enjoys. Remember, handcrafted gifts are often the most memorable. This being said, don't just color a card and consider that a gift.
• DO NOT be afraid to employ the friends of your Valentine to help you figure out what your other may like. This is mainly true of couples that have not been together long. This gesture shows that you're really trying to get to know the other person as well as you possibly could. Beware, however, to be sneaky with this but not so sneaky that your other thinks something is awry.
• DO NOT plan a night in just to cop out of actually putting effort into doing something original. It's very transparent when you do so. If you're trying to save money on the date, try going on a picnic. Find an outdoor theater that plays shows for free if you're on the lawn. Go to the public beach. Find a friend with a projector and lay a blanket out in your backyard and project the movie onto a tarp. Go to your local playground and act like children on the equipment.
• DO remember chocolate is never taboo.

If you find yourself single this Valentine's Day, try the following.

• Plan a night in (or out) with your friends. Ladies, plan a girls' night. Gentlemen, plan a poker/video game marathon (or whatever it is men do when ladies aren't around). Plan a general party/mixer with your friends.
• Don't wait for someone else to buy you some chocolate; buy some for yourself! Chocolate fixes everything; I'm convinced.
• Avoid sappy movies. Also, avoid overly vindictive movies. Try watching old Disney films. Stay away from Lifetime.
• Stay busy if your mind will wander back to the fact that you're single. Focus on work, school, event planning, networking, or whatever it is you do on a regular basis.
• Don't treat the day like it's something special if it bothers you. This being said, avoid moping around or asking to skip over the day in general.
• Remember that even if you don't have a significant other on which to place your feelings on this day, God loves you and wants your love in return and He is the greatest Valentine of them all.

I realize the day before probably isn't the best time to give advice on the subject, but perhaps your a last-minute person, in which case, I hope this helps.

Witticism of the Day: Patience may be the hardest virtue of all to practice, but once you're able to do so you'll find that life is much more pleasant.

For Such a Time as This

Today was super, so I have a lot to ponder here tonight. This could be good news for you, or it could be bad news for you in which case...why are you even reading this?!

First off I must pause because the vertigo has just struck me in a strange fit, so I need to take care of that. It's really quite a hindrance to have this problem, but fortunately it tends to come at times when I'm not doing anything terribly important.

Now that I've settled that issue I'd like to discuss scheduling and stress management. I just put in all the dates that I had left to schedule for the semester, and I realized that I have ONE free weekend that's not involved in spring break left until graduation. ONE. So in order for me to avoid losing my mind completely, I'm going to be trying to breathe as much as possible and spend as little time at events that I don't REALLY want to be at.

While on this topic, I'd like to formally apologize to the individual who tried to convince me over the summer that I didn't have time for them when I was at school due to the insanity of my schedule. While I can't fully believe that the best of intentions were behind this statement, I realized tonight that this statement holds truth. Even if I wanted to make time I couldn't.

And why, you ask, is this such an issue? I've finally found a bit of courage within myself to go after what I really want. One of the things I find that I increasingly desire every time I'm in the correct company is the exact thing I have absolutely no time to sustain. However, while this will cause me to sigh heavily every night before I fall asleep, I know it's for good. I know God is weaving a plan in my life that I can't yet see and that there are obvious hindrances here, but sometimes my patience wears a little thin. It's at those times that God puts someone in my face to remind me that my immediate desires can't even hold a candle to my eternal reward.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll do a "My Favorite Things" blog again with more force than the last to spice things back up here. I know not everyone ACTUALLY wants to read the details of my life.

Witticism of the Day: There is nothing more satisfying than meeting new people who exude your favorite qualities.

Hello Again

Why, hello. It's been a while. I apologize for my absence as of late, but it's been a madhouse around here on a regular basis. I haven't really had much to say either, but I'll try to muster something random up tonight just for you.

I've recently been suffering from some onset vertigo which is really less fun than it sounds. Fear not, I have been medicated for it and am currently trying to figure out when I should make time to see a specialist to figure out what the real issue behind this year-long phenomenon is.

My social calendar is filling up fast which I suppose I should be flattered by. I suppose it means I have a lot of friends, or that I have a few friends who want to do a lot of things. I'm quite excited about most of it, but I must say that which I am still most excited for is BILLY ELLIOT. Three weeks now, boys and girls. The suspense is driving me crazy!

The past two nights I've been in the theater. I find every time I go in there I have this overwhelming sense of belonging. I can't, however, determine which side of the stage I feel I belong on more. I must admit that there's a sense of accomplishment that comes with ushering (despite the conventions you would assume to go along with the job). Something about assisting other theater enthusiasts to have a memorable evening makes me feel important. On the other hand, being on the stage is exhilarating in ways that I can't even begin to comprehend or explain.

It's freezing here. No, literally. Completely inexcusable in my opinion, but of course God works in mysterious ways, working all things together for good. Obviously He's hiding the good here, but we'll find it soon; I'm sure of it.

That's all I've got. Disappointing, I know. Perhaps I'll have something inspirational to say when I come home tomorrow night after my retreat tomorrow. We can only hope!

Witticism of the Day: If you have to be dead, you may as well be drop dead! (I just heard this on the Nanny. I'll try to have my own witticisms again soon.)

No One Mourns the Wicked

I've been inspired to share a piece of wisdom with all of you this evening. I'd like to share with you a list of all the popular shows I've seen/researched recently and the reasons why/why not to take children with you.

• Spamalot (which I just got home from): INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN due to raunchery and innuendo.
• Beauty and the Beast: APPROPRIATE however be warned that squirmish kids could freak out at the sight of the beast. Depending on which production you see there will be other frightening sequences.
• Wicked: INAPPROPRIATE due to innuendo and lots of frightening scenes. On top of all of this they could begin quoting Galindaisms which will result in a depleting vocabulary. I wouldn't recommend taking a child under the age of 12 to this show.
• Billy Elliot: INAPPROPRIATE due to much crass language, adult themes, and the overall depressing mood established by the set.
• Spring Awakening: COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE due to the theme of the musical revolving around adult themes. Please, do not take anyone under the age of 15 to this. Even then you should be using your judgement.
• Phantom of the Opera: INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13 due to frightening scenes and innuendo and allegorical adult themes. The symbolism and meaning will blow over their heads, but the musical can be quite suspenseful at times.
• Rent: INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15 due to many, many, many adult themes. Do not let your children see this.
• Chicago: INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13 due to scantily clad women throughout and adult themes.
• Avenue Q: INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15 due to language and adult themes throughout. It may look like it's target at children since it involves puppets, but it is most certainly not. Just read the titles of songs on the soundtrack if you need an example.
• Mamma Mia: INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13 due to adult themes throughout. Just because your kids know Dancing Queen doesn't mean they understand the innuendo behind the lyrics.

This is a short list because I'm tired and have early class tomorrow and would like to get off to sleep. I will add to this list as I see fit to do so. Please understand that I find all of these to be quality performances and I enjoy them greatly. I just find that we are corrupting our future generation by exposing them to subject matter that they should not be exposed to entirely too early in their fragile, impressionable lives. Exercise caution before escorting your children to a musical.

Also, please enjoy the new look of Witticisms While We Waltz. I was inspired to make it more like my personality. I'm going to attempt to manage another blog that I have yet to title that walks you through the recipes and struggles I go through as I diet over the next few months. You'll be the first to know about it.

Witticism of the Day: Turn "can do" into "can did" (I may have stolen this from a cough drop wrapper...it's hard to tell).

Les Générations Futures

I don't have much to say today. Mostly, I just want to express my discontent with the children of the generation everyone is currently giving birth to and then failing to raise. Today I heard several eight year olds speak on topics that are inappropriate for HIGH SCHOOL students. It's just ridiculous what people are letting kids take in these days. They're children. When I was a child, I watched Barney, read books from the children section of the library, played with sidewalk chalk, and didn't know the meaning of profanity or that sex had another meaning that didn't relate to gender. One boy told me today that his girlfriend is always trying to grab his rear. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN? Then the class proceeded to discuss youtube videos and attempted to convince me to view them. May I just say CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE VIEWING YOUTUBE. Ever.


I'm done venting.

Currently Viewing:


Currently Playing:  He's French. Check him out.

Witticism of the Day: Letting a bunch of smoke into the house makes you feel sick. Don't do it.

Wait For Me

So I've been working this week which is amazing because it means I get paid. This is doubly exciting because I'll probably be able to sustain my out-of-pocket entertainment expenses for the remainder of the semester. However, part of the money I have right now is Christmas money, which I was planning on saving up and spending on dinners and movies and such throughout the course of the semester. This makes me feel like I have justification to make a purchase I've been longing to make for quite some time now.

Let me begin my explanation of this justified future purchase by relating a story that I have from today. When the third graders changed classes today they found their desks and then proceeded to ask me my least favorite yet most anticipated question from young people: Are you married? Of course, I responded in the contrary to which one child responded "Would you like to be?" which would have tickled me if the entire class wasn't on my nerves. (Side note: I really hope someone hires me so I don't have to teach for a living. It's so not my thing.) Anyway, they proceeded to explain to me that I must be married because I was wearing a ring. I didn't feel like engaging 20 eight year olds in a complex monologue about the reason I wear a ring on the finger I hope to eventually wear two completely different rings on that symbolize two different things.

Which leads me to the ring I currently wear there. When I was 12 our youth group went through the True Love Waits curriculum. At the time, I was completely obtuse as to what exactly everything we were discussing meant. However, as time passed I became more and more committed to fulfilling the promise I made as part of the program. I was wearing about three rings at the time already on specific fingers, so I chose to have my ring fitted for an index finger. I knew what the ring symbolized and my parents did (as they bought it for me as a reward for committing to the promise to abstain), but the ring was very nonspecific. It was just a simple band that I liked as I browsed the store. As the years progressed, I ceased wearing the ring on a regular basis due to the finger I had it fitted for and my lack of desire to wear it there. However, as I watched more and more of my friends go down the same road, I found it was time for me to be more vivid with my belief on this subject.

This led me to go have the ring resized so I could wear it on the finger that would help most symbolize the promise. Then I realized how subtle the implication is if you're unfamiliar with my personality, and I started seeing other people wearing this:

Since I finally have enough for this (thank you random $25 coupon sent for no apparent reason), I'll be making the purchase soon. It will not replace the one I currently wear since this is the symbol I chose and I stand by it even if I find it too subtle these days. It will mearly supplement it on a neighboring finger so as to make a statement to those around me.

I will not cave on this. The end.

Witticism of the Day: Threatening to do something multiple times will only get you a temporary fix. If you intend on doing something, just do it. Don't be the boy who cried wolf.

To the Upper East Side

My head hurts pretty bad tonight, so this will be fairly short. I've been sharing these thoughts with my friends a lot recently, so I figured I'd share it with you. Here's my list of recommended books and series.

Please keep in mind that for some reason I can't find many books in any section of the library aside from the Young Adult Fiction section that I find to my liking recently. My tastes currently revolve around books about debutantes or New York boarding school children with a few exceptions.

In order of favoritism:

1. The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen: (Teen Fiction) This series follows several young ladies around 1900 that are among the Old New York society elite. The books are (in order)

• The Luxe
• Rumors
• Envy
• Splendor

2. The Bride Quartet Series by Nora Roberts: (Romance) This series follows a group of four women who live and work together as wedding organizers. Each book follows a different one of the friends as they find love while creating dream events for brides. The books are

• Vision in White
• Bed of Roses
• Savor the Moment
• Happy Ever After

3. The Gossip Girl Series by Cecily von Ziegesar (surprise, surprise): (Teen Fiction) In case you've been living under a rock, this series follows a group of Manhattan's teen elite through several years of high school, and the final novel recaps what happens to the characters as they begin college. DISCLAIMER: I loved this, but you may not. The books are

• Gossip Girl
• You Know You Love Me
• All I Want is Everything
• Because I'm Worth It
• I Like It Like That
• You're the One That I Want
• Nobody Does It Better
• Nothing Can Keep Us Together
• Only in Your Dreams
• Would I Lie to You?
• Don't You Forget About Me
• Gossip Girl: It Had To Be You (Prequel)
• I Will Always Love You
• Gossip Girl: The Carlyles
• You Just Can't Get Enough (Carlyles)
• Take a Chance on Me (Carlyles)
• Love the One You're With (Carlyles)

(The last four of these novels are a spinoff series under the name Gossip Girl: The Carlyles. I read the four of these after Don't You Forget About Me before reading the prequel or the final book in the series because this was the order in which they were written and our library keeps both series in the same place on the shelf. It's entirely your choice if you want to work your way through these 17 novels what order you do so in.)

4. The It Girl Series by Cecily von Ziegesar: (Teen Fiction) This Gossip Girl spinoff series follows popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey as she ventures off to boarding school and attempts to become (stay with me here) the it girl. The books are

• The It Girl
• Notorious
• Reckless
• Unforgettable
• Lucky
• Tempted
• Infamous
• Adored
• Devious
• Classic

5. The Blue Bloods Series by Melissa de la Cruz: (Teen Fiction) This series follows one girl's transformation into a vampire (I know, I know...not another vampire series...) set in the same framework of Manhattan's teen elite (get it now?). The series has been the least conventional vampire story I have found as it involves Lucifer himself (ssssssssss) and an intricate story of his falling and the fallen angels that followed him. The books are (so far)

• Blue Bloods
• Masquerade
• Revelations
• The Van Alen Legacy
• Misguided Angel
• Bloody Valentine

6. The Au Pairs Series by Melissa de la Cruz: (Teen Fiction) This series follows three young girls from different backgrounds who all serve as au pairs for a family on their vacations in the Hamptons and the situations these ladies find themselves in along the way. The books are

• The Au Pairs
• The Au Pairs: Skinny Dipping
• The Au Pairs: Sun-Kissed
• The Au Pairs: Crazy Hot

7. The Private Series by Kate Brian: (Teen Fiction) This is a series I started but never finished only because our library seems to have misplaced the third book in the series, and I'm too cheap to buy it just to find out what happened. The series follows a girl who moves to boarding school (are you sensing a pattern yet?) and her strive to fit in with her classmates in the midst of scandal. The books are

• Private
• Invitation Only
• Untouchable
• Confessions
• Inner Circle
• Legacy
• Ambition
• Revelation
• Paradise Lost
• Suspicion
• Scandal
• Vanquished
• Last Christmas (Prequel)

I know I've read a lot more than this and there is one that I cannot for the life of me remember the title of. This is all I have for you at the moment though. Here's a list of what I'm currently working my way through:

1. Secret Society by Tom Dolby: (Teen Fiction) This book follows a group of Manhattan's teen elite as they are inducted into a becoming affiliated with a secret society that opens doors to their futures...but at what cost? (I should totally write those summaries for the book jackets.)

2. La Petite Four by Regina Scott: (Teen Fiction) Frankly, I haven't started reading this book yet, so I'm not really too clear on what it's about, but it sounded good.

3. The Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard: (Teen Fiction) This series follows four girls in the aftermath of their friend's disappearance. The television series is based off of the series, although I did hear they altered some things to keep from having the whole thing spoiled if you've read the books. The books are

• Pretty Little Liars
• Flawless
• Perfect
• Unbelievable
• Wicked
• Killer
• Heartless
• Wanted

I hope you found something here that sounds good to you.

Witticism of the Day: There's a fine line between reprimanding a child and abusing it. Don't be afraid to discipline, but don't cross the line.

The Home Stretch

I acknowledge the fact that it's been quite a while since I posted, but I wanted to make sure I didn't find an excuse to skip posting anything today (like "I didn't even turn my computer on today" or "I said everything I wanted to say in the last post").

First of all, I've been quite a downer about the holiday everyone in the surrounding area has apparently been celebrating for the last 36 hours and beyond. It's the new year, 2011. Since I've failed to say it to all but a very small handful of people, Happy New Year! (Now I feel better about not responding to the mass texts I received wishing me the same sentiment.)

I find that every year, people choose a resolution for the year that they perhaps have every intention of fulfilling at the time, but they fail to achieve it by the time the year ends. In fact, most resolutions are something like:

• Spend less money
• Lose weight
• Get better grades
• Read more
• Eat healthier
• Etc.

Goals such as these are incredibly vague which defeats the purpose. If you're going to set one of these as your resolution, make sure it's specific to you. "I need to save $X this year for the future instead of spending it frivolously." "I want to lose X pounds by the end of the year." "I want to read X books this year."

As for me, I tend to set semesterly goals to make sure I keep myself in check. I find that shorter periods of time encourage you to stay on top of things. Here are my current goals:

• Find a job
• Lose ** pounds (like that's any of your business)
• Have at least a 3.0 for the semester
• Graduate
• Find a date to College Prom

That's all I've got for now, but the list will likely increase once the semester begins. That's all gravy as long as the list also decreases as time goes by. I encourage you to set your goals in whatever way inspires you to accomplish them.

Witticism of the Day: Regardless of what anyone has ever told you, it is absolutely the furthest thing from important to be THE best at something. What's incredibly important is to be YOUR best at all times. Don't get so caught up in competition that you step on your friends toes in the process. You never know how that will affect them.