so many things on my mind this morning. i love that it's 40 degrees out today, when it was 75 yesterday. it's november, so it should be cold. it felt so good to have my fabulous winter coat on and the brisk air nipping at my fingertips. i never thought i was a winter person, but i guess i really need four separate seasons as a way to mark the passing of time and a way to connect with the world in a sensual way (definition: physical rather than spiritual or intellectual). you can take me out of the tundra, but you can't take the tundra out of me. and the best part about the cold weather is the streets clear out and i can have a peaceful walk to work without the daily freak show based on broad street between passyunk and snyder.
instead of doing my homework last night, i read "Snakes and Earrings" by Kanehara Hitomi in one sitting...it was only 120 pages, so don't think i'm some sort of speed-reading freak. it's a story about disillusioned and disconnected youth in Japanese sub-culture. i'm sure people in america won't get it because japanese culture is different than ours, but there is a universal theme of how people feel separated and isolated from everyone else around them, even if they live with someone...and sometimes that's the person you're cut off from the most. her language is simple, but direct and evocative. i enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone because it deals with body modification and S/M. if you don't like graphic (but not disgusting) details about either one of those, DON'T read this book (and i must be serious if i used caps). and as a writer, i'm in awe of her writing style. it's exactly how i want to write... succinct but rich in meaning and subtext. and she's 20...which shouldn't mean anything, but it does. trust me. i'll be very interested to see how she develops as a writer.
i really hope kids out there know how great it is to read...how much fun it can be to get sucked into a story and feel like you're there...how a book makes you exercise your imagination to picture what the characters look like, what the setting looks like, what the action looks like. tv and movies don't let you have any creative input in the storytelling process...you're spoon-fed everything and told to like it. books (and people telling stories to one another) give you a choice, give you the power over a story to make it your own. i know at least one kid out there who likes to read more than just Harry Potter and i hope he keeps that with him as he enters his teen years. i know i wouldn't be as smart as i think i am if it weren't for reading so much when i was younger. a strong mind and imagination is so important, especially in a world where you need to read between the lines of the things people say and the messages advertisers and politicians put out there.
current mood: pensive
current song: "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison
instead of doing my homework last night, i read "Snakes and Earrings" by Kanehara Hitomi in one sitting...it was only 120 pages, so don't think i'm some sort of speed-reading freak. it's a story about disillusioned and disconnected youth in Japanese sub-culture. i'm sure people in america won't get it because japanese culture is different than ours, but there is a universal theme of how people feel separated and isolated from everyone else around them, even if they live with someone...and sometimes that's the person you're cut off from the most. her language is simple, but direct and evocative. i enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone because it deals with body modification and S/M. if you don't like graphic (but not disgusting) details about either one of those, DON'T read this book (and i must be serious if i used caps). and as a writer, i'm in awe of her writing style. it's exactly how i want to write... succinct but rich in meaning and subtext. and she's 20...which shouldn't mean anything, but it does. trust me. i'll be very interested to see how she develops as a writer.
i really hope kids out there know how great it is to read...how much fun it can be to get sucked into a story and feel like you're there...how a book makes you exercise your imagination to picture what the characters look like, what the setting looks like, what the action looks like. tv and movies don't let you have any creative input in the storytelling process...you're spoon-fed everything and told to like it. books (and people telling stories to one another) give you a choice, give you the power over a story to make it your own. i know at least one kid out there who likes to read more than just Harry Potter and i hope he keeps that with him as he enters his teen years. i know i wouldn't be as smart as i think i am if it weren't for reading so much when i was younger. a strong mind and imagination is so important, especially in a world where you need to read between the lines of the things people say and the messages advertisers and politicians put out there.
current mood: pensive
current song: "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison
Queenie,
READING IS FUN!!!! he he.
I love what you write about and how you write it. I mean I always knew you had talent but until this journal I had now real idea. Oh and I speak for me and Sam. Yes I know your gonna be surprised when I say this but I actually happen to know some pretty neat things about Japan. I've actually started to feel like thats somewhere on my list of places to go one day.
I wonder you speak as if you've been. Have you ever?
I think Fall and Winter are defenitly awsome but I tend to love Winter more. I actually insanely have a skirt on today. Oh what fun it was to walk in the freezing cold. Whats even more surprising is i'm wearing a blue hoodie from Laura. Its actually fitted and very cool. I think the color is very me like but somehow I think you'd doubt that.
I know you want me to shut up so I'm leaving now.
Signed:
TEENAGEXOUTCAST
To:
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
i've never been to japan, but i hope to go there some day. i just read lots of articles and books about it so i'll be ready when i go.
thanks for the complements about the writing. i'm trying to be a better writer...maybe this journal will help. you should use one of your blogs to work on your writing as well.
i can't wait to see the blue hoodie. i don't think i've ever seen you wear blue before.
Well jeans but besides that no Queenie. Anyways what do you think? I think the hoodie is the hottness but I dont know. Sam said it looked great too. We made a big deal of my leaving today.
Its weird ya know? I'm not going to be going to school anymore but I'm looking at colleges and preparing myself for whats ahead.
You are truely a good writer. I can just tell these things and I think I'm actually getting better with writing in general altogether myself because I see changes in my entries. If you read my Xanga you'd know. I kinda hate blogger. I took a myspace too but I cant get in so I dont even wanna bother. I really hate myspace. That is a real disaster and they want ur first and last name. Thats too much personal info for me.
Well....I guess its back to my Xanga now.
Till Next Time
TEENAGEXOUTCAST
To:
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
Ps. I have to really get a new email account. grrr.....I think I also need to use a new provider. Whats your take on Hotmail?
i dig the hoodie. dark blue is cool.
i know this is an exciting time for you, but make sure you focus on the task before you. you still have to earn your GED before you can apply to colleges. it's good to see you thinking ahead about your future, but don't lose sight of what you have to do to get there.
myspace is really more for meeting people than blogging. you could always try LiveJournal, or trash your Blogger and get a new template for it. i think Blogger is where you're going to learn the most about web design, so don't give up on it just yet.
I'm trying to deal with blogger but your right even tho my site for some reason has tech problems altogether the truth s blogger is kinda cool its just annoying to me especially since my site didnt move so well. I like your's tho. I wish mines was as cool as your's. Queenie you really do rowk the bloggers. I dont have any idea why no one comments you because you really smart and intellectually challenging and fun to hang around. Your weird ora is very enlighting. I like that you also kinda can blend in if you really want to.
Thanks for appreciating the hoodie too!
SIGNED:
TEENAGEXOUTCAST
TO:
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
ooh, i'd love to borrow the book next time we get together!
Queenie,
Ahhhh queen of all the land. Why? Why am I about to do something stupid? Something no one knows? I dont know. I'm trying soooo hard to fight this but lets just say I need control again so I'll do anything to get it...........
......I'd even hurt.....you and Bill. Surprising isnt it?
It has nothing to do with this GED bull. Its something you know I battle but somehow I led you to believe I'm better and I'm just not.
now I ask.....who am I? *looks puzzled like she needs someone to lead the way*
please answer this!!!!
Signed:
WHO KNOWS ANYMORE!!!!!
if it is what i think it is, then it's ok if you do it for now, because as you gain more and more confidence in yourself and gain control of your life, all of that will get better
You'd tend to think so huh? I hope so sorda. You know thee other half of my mind.
I just dont wanna hurt you. Lets just say by Jan lst you'll be begging me to go inthe hospital.
I really just hope you dont have to see me then. You'll say what are you doing. If I thought I've seen you cry than I'll never really know till than.