As 2009 comes to a close and we begin a new decade, many people would naturally reflect back on the past 10 years of their lives and try to arrive at some new resolutions to follow. I don't really have any resolutions... except to keep doing what I'm doing -- study hard, write, do my fair share to help out my family and serve my community. It's kind of ridiculous to keep renewing one's resolutions like they've expired or something. Just keep holding your head up high and do it, hoping for the best. ;)
What am I looking forward to this upcoming year?
Finishing my novel (or at least, 75% of it). I've covered my bases as much as I can so far. Got backstories for my main characters with enough detail to write other novels. I'm busy reworking the traditional vampire and dragon myths into something different and refreshing. It's coming along great, and I feel like I'm finally on a roll.
Traveling to other countries. I would LOVE to finally visit London and see all the historical landmarks I've heard about. I would LOVE to take a tour of Europe, visiting cities like Paris, Venice, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Athens. My mom says that we might finally be able to travel this year after all those times I've begged her for an exciting vacation.
Gaining some real-world experience in a field of psychology. It's about time that I apply for an internship to put down on my resume and my application form for graduate school if I'm ever going to get anywhere as a psychologist.
The Knicks making it to the play-offs. Okay, so maybe it's a bit of a long shot. But there's always the possibility, even if it seems the odds are slim. At least they don't suck as much as the Nets.
Speaking of the Knicks, my little sister was bored and clicking through videos on the Knicks website the other day. This is probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen:
Obviously, singing is not Gallo's forte. ;-P
As for other interesting things, I found this wicked cool picture last night as I was reading news articles on Google. It's of an opposition supporter in Iran igniting a fire to a police motorcyle in protest of the Iranian government. Here's the link, if you want to read the full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/28/iran-protests-regime-opposition
And here is the photograph itself:
It just reminded me so much of one of my characters. He has pyrokinetic powers, rides a motorcycle, and has green-gold eyes. And something tragic happened to him...
But that's all I'm saying about it for now. :)
Anyway, I hope the new year and the new decade brings in a new sense of peace among our world leaders and that prejudice fades out. It's a far cry from the harsh reality, but it's a start. One can always hope.
I take back what I said in my September post, about my lack of a social life as a result of throwing myself wholeheartedly into my studies and my writing. I didn't get into the Thomas Hunter Honors Program, but I'm not bummed - more free time! hehe. Although I haven't seen my high school friends that often (or sadly, at all) during this past semester, I met a couple of people in my Intro to Soc and Human Variation classes who were pretty cool and fun to talk to. Don't know if we'll stay in touch, but at least it's something.
And why is it that I always attract guys that I DON'T want to be interested in me? Not to be mean, or anything, but I was totally creeped out when this freshman kept following me after my sociology class. My friend Lisa just got the heebie jeebies when she noticed him staring at me for one minute too long. He seemed like a nice guy, but he was so annoying. I didn't like the way he automatically assumed things about you, nor the way he tried to make a joke about bashing little kids' heads after I mentioned my Child Psychology class. That was pretty much the last straw. Thank goodness I don't have to see him anymore and that I'm getting a new phone and changing my number! I just seriously hope he forgets me. I don't want to deal with future awkward moments. Too many of them have already infiltrated my life, and I would rather have amnesia than remember them.
Why can't guys like Danilo Gallinari, Paul Wesley, or Ethan Peck take notice of me? Or maybe I'm just aiming too high?
But LOOK at these guys... If any of them tried to ask me out, I would have totally said YES.
Oh, well. I can still dream.
Part of the fun of writing a story is imagining who will play your characters in the movie that's in your head. And okay... I've imagined Ethan Peck one too many times as one of the protagonists. It helps to think about the way he acts when he's playing Patrick on "10 Things I Hate About You".
So if you're reading this, you're probably wondering whatever happened to that novel I was working on. I'm going to be frank with you: I've written myself into a corner.
I know where I want the story to go, but my own little critical voice keeps getting in the way. Maybe I've read one too many "How-To" guides on writing fiction. All of these rules about creative writing - "Don't do this," and "Don't do that" - have got me thinking that maybe my prose just isn't good enough. And I haven't even shown it to anyone yet, aside from my sister (who gives helpful feedback from time to time). They say there's no magic formula for writing a good story. So why do the authors of these fiction-writing guides have to be so nit-picky?? Thanks a lot for making me feel like crud about my own work. Now I can't get that little nagging voice out of my head. How does one DO that? Ignore it? Drown it out? I'm hoping to do that through some musical inspiration.
I should just take my own advice and run with it. That is, I should just WRITE and forget everything else.
That'll be my New Year's Resolution.
F*** the caustic critic dwelling in the crevices of my all-too-stressed-out mind. Take chances. Let the characters break through and speak for themselves.
There... I feel better now.
Anyway, I need to make a new music playlist featuring these new songs that I've discovered over the months.
- "Fader" by The Temper Trap (this song has become one of my absolute favorites!)
- "All the World" by Fauxliage (it's so mesmerizing)
- "Magic" by Fauxliage (it's instrumental; has a certain charm to it)
- "Substitution" by Silversun Pickup
- "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake" by The Sounds
- "Queen of Apology" by The Sounds
- "Take Me to the Riot" by Stars
- "Cut" by Plumb (it's kind of depressing, BUT it's such a beautiful song)
- "Unforgivable" by Plumb (this song reminds me of Fiona Apple)
- "Manic" by Plumb
- "Damaged" by Plumb
- "Stranded" by Plumb (this one's a cover of the song originally by Jennifer Paige)
- "Live Like We're Dying" (originally by The Script; Kris Allen's is a cover, but both sound amazing)
- "Wanted" by Jessie James
And of course, as a true GLEEK, I can't leave this out!:
AWESOME ENDING!!!!! Will and Emma totally deserve each other!!!! My sister and I were going crazy because we both knew that they were going to FINALLY end up together! I can't wait until April for some more episodes. ;)
Looking forward to the new year ahead. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
