"Wow! I really haven't posted for a while!"

to celebrate Rupert Grint's birthday, here's a picture of my lunch. What? You don't think that's celebratory enough?

Seems from the date on my last post that I've really taken my sweet time to update my blog, and oh, it has been sweet. So, yeah! I started college! Whoo! Thus far I'm lovin' it. I hear a lot of people say that dorm life is an experience to be had so that you appreciate what comes after it (apparently all the people I hang around with hate living in small rooms and having to walk down the hall to shower and use the toilet-WEIRD); but here's my opinion: BIG IMPROVEMENT.

Things that are better at Edgewood than at Home:
-water pressure
-water that gets more than 'really warm'
-no iron in said water, and branching off of that...
-I no longer have to be afraid to wash my clothes (especially whites)

Non-water related things that are better:
-consistent food source (I have seriously been taking less food than I normal and I am still STUFFED- Three meals a day? YES, FOR REAL! ACTUAL MEALS!)
-proximity to Katie and Amy
-new people (now that I'm making new friends, I have been steadily hiding 90% of the Hartford people from my facebook news feed)
-I've been hearing exponentially less about you-know-what (at least Kelly and Lilly do)
-awesome new bed in a room with actual fans (so long, stuffy Hartford bedroom!)
-Edgewood gave me ETD protection for my computer (so it doesn't get pregnant with spam and viruses)
-cool new stuff (thanks go out to anyone who contributed to making my new room so awesome)

Pictures of my cool new stuff are forthcoming- just thought I'd do a little something to keep interwebs and virtual dust from forming on my blog. :)
***
little note for Kelly and Lilly: I miss you guys (you will appear later in the list of things that are better about home), and I am sorry that you guys still have to eat whenever you can find food and have a slow computer that keeps needing virus-abortions.
I can't wait until I have a webcam and can watch =3 episodes while simultaneously watching your expression as you watch it in Hartford at the same time.
...
What, you're not looking forward to that?

I Need Your Help!

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I've begun working on my 18 Things to Do Before I Turn 18 List, and plan to have each thing done by August 31! That gives me about six months (the first six were spent dilly-dallying and generally not crossing things off lists)- and I need your help! Specifically, I could use some suggestions for books that jerk some tears. I've watched quite a few sad movies, but I feel like reading a book-turned-sad-movie (I'm looking at you, Nights in Rodanthe) would be cheating. For extra credit, I could also use a good recipe involving starfruit...

If you're more of the deal-making and trading type, I will trade you a heart-wrenching book recommendation for this list of very sad (in the emotional sense) movies:

Best Sad Movies From Least to Most Tears

6) Dear Frankie - I'm pretty sure I loved this movie mostly because it takes place in Ireland, but it is definitely a touching story, even if I don't remember the part where I cried...
5) Marley and Me - 5+4 are basically tied- this one made me sob, but Kelly says it didn't get her at all. Sometimes, it depends. Just know, I wasn't the only one crying at this one.
4) Love Happens - The part I'm referring to is brief, but man did it give me a good cry.
3) Click - Say what you will, even thought Adam Sandler is a comedian, this one had me and my sisters crying little rivers.
2) Nights in Rodanthe - The acting is really great, and the story of two strangers is enchanting
1) Million Dollar Baby - I watched this movie years ago, and I still remember it so well. It is a fantastic movie, and Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank are great.

Most Emotional Beginnings to Movies EVER

1) Star Trek - If I told you any more, I'd spoil it!
2) UP

Remember to leave a recommendation!
***
Happy Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) everyone! Today I am thankful for food in French class, Lindt chocolates, my baking abilities (that lumpy chocolate pie wasn't so lumpy after all!), and really unique/great songs like this. :)

2010: The Party Leading Up to It and Resolutions to Follow

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Last night, my sister (the one who posts on IB!! with me - yes, that one) put up a funny tweet that pretty much sums up my New Year's Eve:
"Typical Krill holiday - Heidi in the kitchen, girls waiting for food, Mom napping, Dad video taping everyone & being ridiculous. Oh family..."
The food was delicious, the company was even better (non-tastewise of course), and the Wii boxing was intense. Amy made my Mii do a little flip onto it's poor huge head. Good thing I made it with a smile on its face.

The countdown was a bit anti-climactic, however. We turned on the tv just in time to see all of New York liplocked. Thrown through a loop (we MISSED the COUNTDOWN?!), we laughed awkwardly and focused our attention on Lola, saying her name, giving her kisses, and generally petting her fur off. It happens that we were very well prepared for the festivities (5 liters of soda, 3 bottles of sparkling juice, 1 ring of shrimp, 2 bags of tortilla chips, a whole lot of dip, 24 cheesecups, etc.), but among the few things we forgot was confetti (NO CONFETTI!?!?). Thinking back, we did have a lot of VHS tapes we could have... but that would have been a little hard coming down..
NEW YEAR'S PILLOW FIGHT!!
During which we all commenced to beat up my uncle.

Last year, S and O asked me if I had any New Year Resolutions.
Aaannd, I do!

5 RESOLUTIONS FOR 2010
or
LIST OF CHANGES HEIDI CAN HOPEFULLY MAKE FOR GOOD:

1. Partake in physical activity. Daily. (New yoga mat = yoga everyday? We shall see.)

2. Brush teeth daily. I know this sounds gross, but I don't brush my teeth twice a day, or even once a day. I won't say how often I do.. only that it has been enough. Up until now. Don't judge me! My teeth aren't gross!

3. Tidy up bedroom weekly. Preferably on Sundays. I spent the best part of Wednesday cleaning my room, and I am still not done, though it looks SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. I have this problem, where, um.. I let my room become one giant pile of once-worn t-shirts and entirely-useless school papers before I find the time to clean it. No more.

4. Be funnier. Yes, just a few weeks ago, after being equally amused and disheartened by the never-failing humor of both my sister Kelly and Winona of DaddyLikey, I actually googled 'how to be funnier'. This is the one resolution which, upon failing to carry out, I won't be able to hide with lies.

5. Turn that Procrastinator problem into a Doing habit. I need to become more productive. I feel like, if I can do this one thing- all of the others will be that much easier.

What are your resolutions? How did you celebrate last night?

What I Like About Tuesday! (And an Award)

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Last Week, When I made a short list of things I like about Monday, Katie and Amy suggested I do one for Tuesday, so here it is:
Things I Like About Tuesday!

1. I'm back in the groove. I've again accepted (however little I like it) that another week has started (because on Sunday, who knows? Work/school could still be canceled on the next day...). But Tuesday? Fuggedaboudit. At least Monday is over, and you're back in that groove of working and learning. Weekend grogginess, I'll see you later!

2. Less complaining from everyone. Weekend-hype has worn off, and Monday was used to get over it. Now it's Tuesday, and people have stopped moaning over getting back to work. Plus, there's no way anyone can get away with saying to you, "Somebody's got a case of the Mondays..."

3. I'm that much closer to Friday. On Monday, you know it's all like, "It's only the beginning! NOOOOOOO!!!" Slow suffering, and all that. But on Tuesday, you know that time has not stopped- and oh yeah, you're already 20% closer to the next weekend.

This award is from Marcela. :)

She's a real sweetheart, and her blog, The Joy of Enjoying, is a favorite of mine.
Thank you!

This award must be sent out to 15 other lovely bloggers.
-Rhianne For being adorable, and one of the most caring bloggers there is!
-Alyssa For being confident and cool
-Emerson For her beautiful photography
-DT For being thoughtful and sweet
-Jamie For being a good friend- the kind I'd like to have
-Athena For being a dreamer, in an often discouraging world
-Chelsea For being optimistic
-Nicole For being a complete sweetheart (check out her idea for christmas cards)
-Michelle For being inspirational and kind
-Lilly For cuteness and happiness
-ThisLovelyCity For her sweet comments and giving me new things to love
-Teddy and Lu For having an adorable couple's blog
-Ange For the lovely simplicity of her posts
-Sarah Von For being clever and inventive on a regular basis
-Fallon For making her own fairytale

Monday!

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Is it just me, or does blogging hold the magic to make my Mondays better? Because I've certainly been feeling better these Mondays. Ah, and it's good to be back! Let's go over some things I like about the first weekday, shall we?

Things I Like About Monday:

1) A new week, a new beginning I'm a little funny in this way, but I just feel good about any kind of new beginning.

2) Drinking coffee I usually skip coffee on the weekends, since I don't need the caffeine. It's a bit of a treat on Monday to have it again... mmm... so sweet and dark.

3) Accomplishing something As much as I'd love to extend my weekend for days and days, the truth is that I really never accomplish as much during the weekends as I do during the week. And there's something to be said about that feeling of doing actual work.

It's a small list, but it's something. Sorry I'm posting so late on Monday, but I had a late play practice today. :(

Hope you all started out the week well!
*

How to Have Your Followers, and Eat Them Too. Wait... what?

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Alright people. Just so you don't think I'm a creeper, there's a saying that goes, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Now, what exactly that means, I'm not quite sure, and it would be a great thing for someone to comment about. What I want to talk about is How to Keep Your Followers.

The reason I bring this up is because I have been dropping quite a few blogs off of my reading list for a couple of reasons, and I suspect that the writers of said blogs probably don't notice the loss of one follower, but if YOU are the kind of person who would notice that missing follower, here are some tips so that you are not left wondering (under such circumstances, should they arise), "What did I do wrong?"

Reasons I Click the 'Stop Following This Site' Button:

1. They already have 1,000+ followers, and their posts aren't that great. How good the blog's posts are plays a huge role in following or not following. Simply, blogs with a vast follower base are like the Walmart of the blog world. And I prefer to support locally owned businesses, yo; especially if the posts are better quality there.

2. The posting is irritatingly irregular. No, you don't have to post every day, or even every week. I am currently following a blog which updates only once a month, but the point is that they regularly post once a month (and again, the post quality is pretty good). However, the blogs which fluctuate from posting once a week to not posting for a month drive me a little bonkers. The main point is, I don't want to waste that space on my blogroll, waiting for you to post again, when for all I know, you abandoned ship. I don't mean to be harsh, but I'm being honest.

3. (Oo.. a reference to my last 'The Way I See It Post'!) I feel like they don't care whether I'm following them or not. I am following a handful of blogs with the sweetest, most caring writers. I comment on their blogs, or start following them, and they comment back on mine(or acknowledge/give thanks to their followers in a post on their blog). To those of you who do this, (and I always try to do it in return) I love you guys. Thank you for caring about me, out of your how many more followers/commentators. Again, I recently dropped a blog with mediocre posts and a writer who probably didn't even notice when I joined their followers. Needless to say, I don't feel bad about it.
To quote Beyonce's song, Single Ladies, "If you like it, then you should have put a ring on it." Except, it's more like, "If you want me to follow your blog, you should have cared enough to tell me so."

I had fun writing this, and I hope you laughed too at my sometimes ridiculous comparisons or what-have-you, rather than thinking I am just harsh or way off base. And, I'd like to give a big thank you to all of my followers (thankfully I haven't lost one yet) for being so great, whether by commenting on my posts or being sweethearts on their own blogs. I do not take you guys for granted, and if you are ever seriously irked by something I say, feel free to tell me! Otherwise, how would I know?

If...

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If I could only say ten words for the rest of my life:

1.yes
2.no
3.love
4.I
5.you
6.want
7.why
8.do
9.hope
10.home

How about you?

And the Routine Settles in Like Fog...

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Hey guys! Things are pretty normal around here... I've already developed a new routine:

6:00am- Woken up by Moma, fall back asleep, fail to remember later
6:30am- Wake up for real, go downstairs, don't shower if I can get away with it, and prepare for school while all the while staring off into the distance in a half-sleeping manner
7:22am- Run into the school so as to make the 25-after bell
7:25am- School coma sets-in
8:20am- While sitting in Math class, dig into my lunch bag for a couple chips
10:50am- Meet Kelly in the Choir room to go to really-early-lunch time (chips, sandwich, and dessert)
12:02pm- Talk about literature in AP Lit class
12:55pm- Slip back into school coma
2:40pm- Find Kelly
2:42pm- Leave the school with Kelly (who usually likes to stand in the sun, instead of under the shade) and look for an approaching Little Blue
~3:00pm- Walk into the house, over to my computer, and turn on my game: 2Moons
3:30pm- finish up killing monsters or fishing, and attempt to call Rich who does not answer because he's in class (but I want to talk to him anyway)


Exciting, huh? I want to just put my routine in a glass jar and shake it up! Soooooo boring!
Any suggestions for spicing up my life?

Why I Love Numbers

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1 is unique. The smallest and only number that is something without being multiple. It is the original. 1 is something we strive for in our lives. We want to be first, to be unique, to be the most important.

2 is the smallest group. It suggests balance and symmetry; we have two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, two arms, two legs, two kidneys. If one fails, there is still one more. Without the number 2, there would be no great romances. There is a level of intimacy and connection which can only be had between two people. When to each one, the other is the most important. A one looks at another one and sees them as exactly that: unique. special. the most important.

3 is a magic number. There is something about the number three which has captivated cultures. The spiral of life, which symbolizes life, death, and rebirth. The similar triskele, with its three spheres symbolizing land, earth, and sky (all the aspects of the material world). The holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy spirit. The three gifts of grace: Faith, Hope, and Love. The majority of the world's national flags have only three colors. Some have more. Few have less. Why is this? The number 3 seems just right.

4 is the square. It is strength and stability. Some of the most powerful words are only four letters. Love. Hate. Hope.

5 is something else. We have five fingers on each hand. And five toes on each foot. (Something new parents are fond of counting on their newborns) We have five senses. As far as counting, 5 is the best. Not too many and not too few. The best numbers for lists, by far. I'm sure everyone in the world has thought of their Top 5 something.

6 is interesting. There are six directions: up, down, north, south, east, and west. (I'm sorry I can't think of anything else for this one!)

7 is lucky. There are seven days in a week. (there are plenty of other sevens, but I thought these were the best and most important)

8 is musical. An octave. It is the first day of another week. It is a number of new beginnings.

And finally: 9. 9 is the mother of the other numbers. It is the wisest, and oldest. Remember back in the "olden" days when there were still nine planets? Well, that is what I would have said here, to defend the number nine. But since Pluto isn't a real planet... (I feel really bad because Lilly told me she doesn't like the number nine, and I haven't really given her a reason to like it!)

Do you have a favorite number? Maybe you guys have things to add to what I've said here... :)

Things Which Make Me Happy

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First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their good humor over my last post, which was - admittedly - slightly horrible. :) TODAY will be dedicated to pure goodness! So here is my list:

1. As I have just stated, my readers make me happy! Thank you so very much for reading. You have no idea how much blogging cheers me up- including reading all those blogs I follow.. :D

2. Chow Chows!! (hence the picture) Among my list of life goals (get married, attend and graduate college, etc.) is Own a Chow Chow. I will have fun with it every day and every time I look at it's fluffy face, I will be a little bit happier.

3. Cheese! Being from Wisconsin, it would be completely unheard of for me to dislike cheese, but I would say I love it excessively. So tasty. Cheese can make nearly any food (of course, desserts are omitted- though cream cheese adds so nicely to some...) taste better.

4. Movies. I love movies. And I love going to the movie theatre. Something needs to really be upsetting me if a trip to the movies does not help my mood.

5. Photography. I am a total shutterbug like everyone else in my family. I fully appreciate a beautiful picture. A good picture has the ability to completely cheer me up, motivate me, inspire me, or move me.

Things You Might Not Know About Me:

...I'm always dreaming about my teeth becoming crooked or coming out, from my two front teeth being bent back to half my upper teeth all coming out together (It scares me, and these dreams started after my orthodontia began).

...My favorite Star Wars movie is Episode 2, because of the romance between Anakin and Padmae.

...I'm very careful about not coming off as an idiot, and as a result have trouble jumping into things (I pause before and in between saying things to get my words right, and my french teacher told me I know my stuff and just need to jump into it-I'm too focused on making mistakes)

...I'm notorious for avoiding social interaction; especially when it comes to old teachers and people I am no longer friends with.

...I worry about being a good mother one day because I have no positive motherly-role models.

...As a habit, I bite off the skin in the upper corners of my finger nails.

...I think the worst thing about having a big family is people using your things without asking.

...I think 'accountant' is probably the most boring job in the world.

...I do not have any foods I 'DON'T EAT', I am very open to trying new things when it comes to food; like, I hear sheeps' bladders are delicious. Hahaha.

...I feel like there is something wrong with my room, or at least my bed; I wake up and still lay half-awake and half-dreaming for who knows how long usually until someone else comes to get me. It is wrong that I cannot get out of my bed of my own will most days. I wish I had an alarm clock that went off with "Get up, you lazy bum."

...My favorite music comes from movies, because I am such a visual person and I identify with the visual images and emotions I have already connected to songs.

My Go-To List

It's easy for me to become stressed or tense and unhappy, and forgetful of things that make me happy. So, I've decided to make une liste of things which cheer me up and release some of that tension.

• My best stuffed buddies-Blue and Pancake. I love to cuddle with them, it makes my life seem simple.
• My bed! Usually just lying down for a little bit relaxes me and makes me feel safe.
• Doing yoga, it's the only exercise that doesn't feel like exercise and puts my focus on breathing while getting a good stretch.
• Watching a movie after exercising (it feels like a reward which makes me feel like I did a good job exercising and I'm proud of myself for not rewarding myself with a snack)
• Spending time with my sisters
• Baking; it's different from eating (which could be bad) but still indulges my love of food. Plus, I love making tasty food to share with the people I love.
  

Things Which Seriously Bother Me

>The phrase "pet peeve". Peeve is just a gross word. Hence my alternative post title.
>Houses with garages visibly larger than the actually house part.
>People who contradict themselves depending on their mood. You know who I'm talking about.
>Car horns. In my opinion should not be used for anything but emergencies. I'm sure they were either invented by someone emergency-conscious or a complete asshole.
>People who ask a question more than once because they didn't get the answer they wanted the first time. Like they pretend they didn't hear you answer their question the first time. Hello people, my answer is not going to be different the second time!
>People who do not eat all the food on their plates. If you're not going to eat it all, do not take so much or save it for later, don't just leave it. Movies in which people order food and then leave the restaurant without eating it seriously bother me. WHO DOES THAT?! NO ONE DOES THAT!
>People who keep things which they have not looked at or used in multiple years and do not plan on doing so.
>Reality TV shows with super vivid colors, swearing, drama, and flashing quickly between several shots. Breeding grounds for attention defecit problems, skewed perception of reality, and headaches.
>Parents who do not discipline their children.
>Smokers. If I pass one, I automatically hold my breath until I am able to breath untainted air again.
>People who respond to anything you say with a statement about themselves.
>Kiss-ups. It's okay if you do someone favors once in a while, but don't become their best-friend/slave and say they're the devil behind their backs.
>When good shows go off air because the masses prefer reality TV smut.
>People who out of bitterness from their jobs are rude to customers. Generally, it is not the customers' fault. (ex. Public libraries)
>People who say everything like with a condesending tone even when they are completely wrong.
>People who only talk to other people to make a point of how smart they are.

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Heidi

1] I don't like repeating anything. I am currently struggling (because I have nothing else to read) to reread Twilight.

2. Sometimes I feel like I have no way to express my anger or frustration when it arises. I feel like this is unhealthy for me, but that's just the way it is right now.

3) I never plan on getting my ears pierced.

4> My favorite weather is sun shining, breeze blowing, cool grass but since this kind only comes once every two years, my second favorite is overcast skies.

5* If I had a car, I would like to volunteer at the Humane Society. I love animals and I think it would be fun to help walk the animals or play with them.