50 things i've learned from college...and i'm not talking about classes

1. You don't need beer to have a rock-awesome party
2. You don't need beer to gain the Freshman Fifteen
3. Never procrastinate to the point that you have to write fourteen papers in one weekend
4. Pulling all-nighters are so much better when there's someone around to make sure you don't hurt yourself
5. If you hear strange breathing under your roommate's bed, seek help immediately
6. If your roommate dies, you get all A's...there seems to be no stipulation about whether or not you kill them, causing temptation during finals week
7. If the HFAC (Harris Fine Arts Center, where the lowly theatre and film students dwell for most of their lives) burned down, there would be world peace
8. Just because your acting professor is brilliant, doesn't mean he won't be strange...actually, it's more likely that he will be
9. It's a lot easier to be awake at five in the morning than in the middle of astronomy class
10. Studies show a correlation between professors voices and ancient lullabies
11. The smaller your living area, the faster you lose your deodorant under your notebooks
12. Jeans can be worn at least five times before they need to be washed
13. Tide stain-remover pens are *amazing!!!*
14. One of the most priceless possessions in the world is a good pair of headphones
15. Thermostat battles can be bloody
16. Magnets are great if you always lose your keys
17. Receipts make great notepaper
18. Plastic bottles can be made into anything
19. Being domestic feels good, even if you only own two mugs and a set of measuring spoons
20. Not having a car stinks (kinda like your feet after not having a car)
21. Wal-Mart and Target are meccas
22. Jamba Juice has secret, underground flavors
23. If you freeze cream soda, then open the cap just a little, it turns the whole thing into a slushie
24. Never take WiFi for granted
25. Snow and heels don't mix
26. A good cell phone can be dropped at least two thousand, fifteen times before it breaks
27. Ice cream heals all troubles
28. Vending machine food deserves its own place in the food pyramid
29. Bread gets moldy really fast
30. Always check your bread for mold before eating it
31. Expired milk won't kill you, you might just smell funny for a few days
32. Eating cereal out of a mug with a measuring spoon actually works quite well
33. Everyone in the world should have a meal plan
34. After having a meal plan, when you go somewhere that doesn't accept it, you end up handing them your ID card anyway and taking at least half a minute to realize why they're looking at you funny
35. Showers are highly overrated
36. Dryer sheets degrease and make your hair smell nice
37. Ditto baby powder
38. Toilet paper is expensive
39. When doing laundry, you must remove your clothes from the machine within thirty seconds or they'll end up on the ground and you'll be ticked off, even though you know perfectly well you will do the same thing to someone else next time
40. Unfortunately, with the joy of independence and no curfews, you miss having someone wash your underwear and remind you a million times to take your medicine
41. The best place to get someone to ask for your phone number is waiting in line for lunch
42. If you go in winter to a school where men and women aren't allowed in the same building together after midnight, you will probably spend 95% of your dates trying to keep warm
43. When it comes to dating, "Age is just a number, baby"
44. Before you tell forty-five people you're dating someone, make sure it's going to be for longer than a week and two days
45. If naps are for babies, sign me up to be two again
46. Ninja Turtles and My Little Ponies are completely in style
47. Considering they're not drunk, people can still sound awfully stupid singing at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night...not that I'm not a guilty party
48. College is made up of a lot of stupid smart people
49. You think high school boys are idiots until you reach college...then you realize all boys are idiots
50. Magic leoplurodons know the way to Candy Mountain

hot stuff

Now tell me, that is not the hottest thing you've seen all day! Our church roadshow--I really wish you could see my green skirt, orange socks, blue shoes and the amazing picture on the shirt. C'mon, you wish you could look that good!

U2 said it right...

It's a beautiful day! Nothing feels better than getting a higher grade on a midterm than you were previously expecting, especially when it's over 60 degrees outside and gloriously clear! *sigh* Things are good, life is good! Now I'm on a computer kiosk and there's a bunch of people behind me...I will be better about posting later in the week. But life is good, thought for the day.

name that tune--calise style pt. 2

Okay, so it's bugging the heck outta me that no one has guessed what any of the songs in my beautiful cacophany of songs were. I know it was mostly rhetorical, but I still wanted at least one person to guess. So, I'm just going to tell you. Hah.

Collide~Howie Day
I Got You~Nick Carter (I know, I'm pathetic. It's a good song!)

A Little's Enough~Angels and Airwaves
How to Save a Life~The Fray
Boys of Summer~the Ataris
Natural Anthem~Postal Service

Surprise Ice~Kings of Convenience
Paper Airplane Dream~The Lyndsay Diaries
Always Something There to Remind Me~Naked Eyes
Just Can't Get Enough~Depeche Mode

Only Hope~Switchfoot
The Adventure~Angels and Airwaves
Bittersweet Symphony~The Verve
Speed of Sound~Coldplay

I Want It That Way~Backstreet Boys
Friday I'm in Love~The Cure
Perfect Situation~Weezer
Chasing Cars~Snow Patrol

Vindicated~Dashboard Confessional
Time Stands Still~All-American Rejects
You and I Both~Jason Mraz
You and Me~Lifehouse

From California~The New Amsterdams
Everyone~Backstreet Boys
Soul Meets Body~Death Cab for Cutie
Another Perfect Day~American Hifi

Embers and Envelopes~Mae
The Best of Me~The Starting Line
Sunshine~Keane
Song 2~Blur

Save Yourself~Sense Field
Such Great Heights~Postal Service
The Frog Prince~Keane
Spitting Games~Snow Patrol

Nothing in My Way~Keane
Is It Any Wonder?~Keane
People Are People~Depeche Mode
Crooked Teeth~Death Cab for Cutie

All These Things I've Done~The Killers

Man, I need to get a life.
In other news, I am making good progress on my happy little book. I'm going to break it into workable sections tonight then write like...like...dang, all the good similes are taken! I'm going to write like someone stuck at the bottom of a well, clawing desperately at the muddy walls with shaky fingernails and all she can do to get out is to write! Ha! Now tell me if that's a cliche! Okay, so it was a little weird and made absolutely no sense but at least it wasn't "like the wind."

the one minute blog

I'm writing this blog in one minute and I'm not editing it or anything. I'm having a crazy week and I really haven't had time to post. I'm trying to finish revamping my novel by March 12 (1 week).

(That's really all I could get to in one minute)

happy week

Just something quick tonight since I really need to cram for my midterm tomorrow and I've been using my blog and facebook to procrastinate writing all week! *Sigh* Procrastination is really a curse.
So here is my top ten good news of the week:
1) My new favorite song, for now anyway, is "Boys Don't Cry" by the Cure. I also love "Embers and Envelopes" by Mae and "I'll Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie, but I've liked those for a while.
2) I was able to buy said songs from iTunes this week! Yay! Plus a ton more '80s songs, more Death Cab, Angels and Airwaves and the Fray!
3) There was no school on Monday so the week was incredibly short!
4) I got to hear my one-year-old niece say, "Tick, Tock" on the phone when talking about a clock. Pretty much the cutest thing in the world!
5) I did reasonably well on my Monologues in Acting class this morning.
6) I taught a lesson on Physical Fitness for our church activity and it went really well!
7) My Empty-Water-Bottle Drawer is full! (Although I don't know if that's necessarily good news)
8) I have Tropical Starbusts and Sour Mentos that came in a pretty swirly mug I bought for myself! That brings my kitchen items up to two!
9)I aerobicized my butt off tonight! (I don't care that aerobicized is not a word. It should be!)
10) And, best of all, I'VE LOST 6 LBS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you and goodnight.

name that tune--calise style

This is just a fun little thing I used to do on my profile back in the old days when AIM was huge. ;) It's a song made from random lines from lots of different songs. If you have the time, patience and music savvy, you could try and figure out what all the songs are. If not, it sounds cool when you read it anyway.

The dawn is breaking, a light shining through
Just an ordinary day, like when I met you

Your smile is gone, I noticed it bad
I stayed up with you all night
I saw a black-flag sticker on a Cadillac
but at least I spelled your name right

The world ends at your window tree
We live in a world of familiar strangers
I was born to love her and I will never be free
When I'm with you, baby, I go out of my head

I want your symphony singing in all that I am
And here we go, life's waiting to begin
Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees
Every chance that you get is a chance you seize

But we are two worlds apart
Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart
Why am I so obviously insane?
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Hope dangles on a string like slow-spinning redemption
The epitome of perfection
Just remember the telephones work in both ways
I'm tripping on words

Only can play the cards the dealer dealt us
We've been inside the circus
Where they're far more suited than here
But I guess it's no big deal

We write to patch things up
Say what you're thinking right now
I hold you in my hands, like a little animal
And I'm pins and I'm needles

He's got your picture in his mind
And that, frankly, will not fly
Oh, why did I rely on fashions and small fry?
My heart is bursting in your perfect eyes

For a lonely soul you're having such a nice time
Well, love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme
It's obvious you hate me, though I've done nothing wrong
You can't find nothing at all, if there was nothing there all along

I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier

Now, when I become rich and famous, people will analyze this song to discover the true meaning. They will come up with beautiful theories, but no one will come close. Think about it.

The truth is, there is no deep meaning. I tried to make it rhyme at first but that was taking me too long and didn't work anyway, so I mixed most of it up. Don't tell Them that,though!

i ♥ nerds

*Sigh* I was reminded tonight about just how much I love nerd boys. I spent the evening playing *cool* games like Cleopatra--where you get to build fun temples--and some really long-named game where you're in a haunted house--I found the Mystic Elevator...it was pretty exciting. When I first went over to ask if I could play, I thought I was doing it for observational purposes--a fantasy novelist should know what her target audience is doing--but it ended up being really fun. Plus, I felt like I could relax and be myself because I was really not trying to be cool. That says something about me on a regular basis, I know, but it's hard to not try and prove yourself normal among people who are apt to think you strange.
So now there is a battle raging in my mind:
In the long run, do I go for guys that are "nerds" and don't think it's weird that I'm weird and can be pretty cute if you get the right mixture of charm and social ineptness, or do I go for "normal" boys that can balance my odd tendencies with some semblance of normality and appreciate me because I'm different?
There are debates for both. If I married a strange guy I'm afraid our children might have problems...not serious problems, but life might be easier if they didn't have two very strange parents. I've got to watch myself as it is not to name them anything too far out there (although I think Storm is the coolest, manliest name I could think of. There are some who disagree with me. All I know is that if I ever met a guy named Storm, I would be instantly enamored).
Boys are so cute when they go off on random nerdy tangents or when they get really wrapped up in something *besides* sports. Plus, glasses can be so darn attractive (especially with a large nose, but I believe I went over this in another post).
Okay, now I'm gushing. I really need to stop that. I'm going to lose any readership I had...if there was any. I'm seventeen and have far too much estrogen for my own good! Give me a break!
You know what really gets me giddy though? Of course you don't. It would be a tad scary if you did. I'll tell you so you can go, "Calise, would you please shut-up!"
It's either boys who seem really masculine and tough having a vulnerable, even embarrassing side *or* nerdy, even socially inept, boys who have a strong, protective side. Believe me, when you write this stuff you have to make extensive case studies (well, you don't have to, but it's fun). I have limitless examples.
One of the best is blushing. Blushing is, for me, one of the cutest things a guy can do. Other good examples are superheros (Peter Parker/Spiderman is my favorite),
self-consciousness (although I should probably not wish that upon anyone), phobias, and lots of the male protagonists I write, of course.
This single element is what makes most romantic books and movies exciting to me. I love that the frog is actually a prince or the masked man is really just a farm boy who learned how to play with a sword. You want to write a story that will make Calise Acree grin until her face is about to burst and hear her make odd noises in the back of her throat, write romances where people have secrets--not nasty, ugly secrets, but "oh, gosh, she'd laugh at me," secrets. Strip your characters naked for the world to see--*not literally* I just mean expose them. Perhaps that's why I like YA so much. Teenagers are so unsure of themselves (myself included) and I love to read about people who feel just as gawky in the world as I do, and I love them for it.
Dang, this is long, again...and about my love life, again. I'm sorry I have such a limited focus in life. I talk to boys, I write, I think about boys, I write, I write about boys...

Facebook is Like Marijuana

Calise's deep thought of the week:

Facebook is like Marijuana.

Wait, there's more. This is an extended metaphor. Facebook quite addictive like marijuana, but this is not my main reason for comparing the two. You see, a very cool teacher of mine told our class that marijuana doesn't do that much to you on its own. I mean, sure, it's bad for you and perhaps not very smart, but it doesn't have nearly the lasting effects that other drugs have on your body. What it does do, however is open you up to taking other drugs because, after all, if you've done marijuana what difference does it make if you do other drugs? This is the reasoning, anyway (according to my teacher--I take his word for it). So, my teacher said he could always tell when his "friends" started doing pot because they would suddenly stop hanging out with him because when they were with him, he reminded them that they were doing something wrong. He spoiled their fun. So, they pressured him to do pot too, so that they could forget their own compunction.
This is where my Facebook/Marijuana Metaphor kicks in! You see we are pressured into getting a Facebook by our friends. Weak in the face of our peers, anxious to please and have fun, we do it. We reason that we'll only post a few pictures and update our status once a week and maybe talk to that long lost friend who moved to Zimbabwe back in '96. An hour a week, tops! But then, one thing leads to another and before we know it, we're poking with the best of them and starting our own groups for Nose Connoisseurs and practically spamming people's Walls. Spending far more time online than we should, we begin to feel guilty. When we spend time with our non-Facebooking friends, we marvel at the time and energy they seem to have and vaguely remember days before we knew how to state our emotions in third-person or racked our brains to remember how we met a person randomly and if it was them we traveled to the grocery store with, back in '03. We don't like that the non-Facebookers remind us of those times, so there's only one thing left to do...sign them up immediately.

Okay, so this was a little out there...one of those things you analyze in the shower. Am I the only one who thinks better in the shower? Or interviews herself on Oprah? "Yes. Yes, Calise, you are. You are now officially a loser." Thanks, guys.

Did you know that every awkward silence, someone thinks of Abraham Lincoln?