Tell Him I'm a Vegetarian (MHU)

This is the last Monday of September! It's a strange feeling, as I officially feel like this means we're approaching the Holiday Season (for those of us who, like me, count Halloween and Thanksgiving as major holidays to start off the Holiday Season). Of course, with MONDAY HOLIDAY UPDATES, every season is a holiday season!

There are multiple holidays today, but my favorite one happens to be legitimate, started back in the 80's in a movement by teachers to get more student participation. Today is National Ask a Stupid Question Day, and it gives you the chance to put to the test that nasty rumor of "no such thing as a stupid question". Find one! Ask it! This is a day that people like me adore; no longer can our questions of tap-dancing pineapples go ignored. Today is a holiday just for that!

Tuesday's holiday has literally been around for thousands of years, so make certain you try to celebrate Confucius Day. He's a great philosopher and leader of a school of thought that freshmen are often misled to believe is a religion, but he's best remembered for his words of wisdom, such as "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others" and more confusing things like, "To understand nothing is to understand everything". At least that one makes me feel pretty good about myself.

Wednesday celebrates my favorite oxymoronic practice- Mud Packing! Mud Pack Day is very much real and I'm very much serious when I say that it's a day to celebrate the mud facial. Since I've never had the experience, I don't have much to say about this. Just that mud baths and mud packing with their oxymoronic natures amuse me almost as much as people running with their hands tied behind their back. (But really, nothing could compare to that.)

October starts this Thursday! (Since that's the second half of the week, I'll refrain from giving the lengthy list of month titles in October. Besides being the month of my 18th birthday, of course!) The first of October is Vegetarian Day, which means I intend on eating no meat myself. I remember once upon a time I wanted all my Thursdays (ironically, I honestly did pick Thursdays...) to be vegetarian. There really wasn't a purpose since I wasn't health conscious; I think I just felt bad for the itty bitty animals I was eating and didn't have the guts to go all the way. That lasted like two weeks.

I really appreciate Friday's holiday, Name Your Car Day. "My" truck already has a name that I've given her- Shezelle. Now, that is pretty much the girliest name a red pickup could have, but I feel like it fits her. Especially when she's got her Gerber daisy up front where it belongs. Most people name their cars, including Mark and Em, so most people won't be able to do much to celebrate today except perhaps calling their car by its name. But my friend Kathy has had a nameless car (unless you count when it's called "Bubble Car", but that's more of an alter-ego) for almost a year, and my friend Christine just recently got the hottest used car I've ever seen and it yet to name her. So we three shall have fun celebrating, and I'll try to remember to share the results!

Saturday is International Frugal Fun Day, which isn't going to be hard to celebrate. I've had to had frugal fun for a long time, seeing as I've never had a job. And now I have to save money for Christmas/NYC/college/life/ice cream runs (not necessarily in that order).

This Sunday we get to celebrate the Frappe. Frappe is one of those desserts, like Cherry Jubilee, which I'm sure I should have had already, but don't think I have. It is, in case you hadn't guessed, National Frappe Day. According to my heroes at Holiday Insights, it's basically just a milkshake with more froffiness (which is always a good thing) and doesn't always have to include coffee or alcohol like I've previously assumed. They also suggested a pumpkin frappe "because it's October", but seeing as the website the recipe is from is an EXACT replica of the layout of Holiday Insights (now in improved orange coloring!), I feel like they're just supporting a sister site. Either way, it looks like an easy enough Sunday treat to make and celebrate.

"Don't Trust Me" is from 3Oh!3, and except for my favorite line, has nothing to do with Thursday.

Fibular and Tubular and Ribs and Cages, Too

This year, since I'm in AP Art and Independent Computer Graphics and feel like I should be doing my art as homework (although that happens pretty much never), I've been toting around my thumb drive Kingsly. The awesome bit about that is that I've finished an art piece, put it on Kingsly, and can now show it off, after turning it in just yesterday! Totally Awesome, my dears.

I started this piece while I was still working on the Warriorfest Poster. Speaking of that- it is really surreal seeing it everywhere I go. It's literally twice in every stairwell, in about half my classrooms, in random hallways, and various other places "throughout the community" and it's kind of driving me crazy. Good thing I like it!

But back to this. Mrs Fay would pop in and out randomly, and when I had nothing to work on with the poster, I would revert to working on this project. Independent kids don't have prompts, so I was just going off of what seemed cool. Originally, I wanted to do a ribcage with butterflies inside it. Trapped, you see, like a cage. HOW EXCITING. Then, I found this angle of a rib cage that struck me like crazy.

Merging the ribcage with the butterfly was so sickeningly easy. It's like the photographers were destined to have symmetry. You might think the blendiness is just me being cool, but it's all nature, my dears. The ribs ended right where the wings did and everything was just so...in line!! I can take pretty much no credit for that. And if you think it's a shoddy job, let me repeat. It's all nature's fault.

And my only bit of bragging I have for this piece is about the textures in the background. The burnt/torn/written-on paper is actually a merging of three separate textures. Burned paper, torn paper, and written-on paper, of all things! I'm not certain what the writing it; I believe it's actually mathematical, which means all the more reason for you to ignore it. And the texture behind THAT is something awesome I did accidentally hitting features on CS4. I could never repeat it, but I feel it was a penicillin mistake. And that's a good thing.

Once I was done with warriorfest and could focus completely on my skeleton friend, Mr. Gehl had announced reflections' topic this year. "What is Beauty?" is an awfully vague topic, but that's how they like the themes. I was already doing this, so I figured I might as well enter. No reason not to! It's a butterfly, which is ~totally~ cliche for a topic about beauty. But y'know what? It's a DEATH butterfly. And that oxymoron is so delicious I don't care how cliche it's parental topics are.

If you remember from my last reflections entry, the most important part is the artist's statement. Which I haven't written yet. I intend on writing about how Beauty is...finding new life in something considered dead or old. Weaving in the kissing old people (love is life) and the torn up paper and the whole death-butterfly thingy. Totally not my intention, and therefore I don't feel too bad about not having it to share with you, internet, as of yet. Once I write it, if it ends up being AWESOME, I'll weave it in someweek.

"Skeleton Friend" is an awesome song that can be found by Kate Nash

When I See an Elephant Fly (MHU)

I have allergies right now. Blech. The worst part is the post-nasal-drip.
But I'm sure you're not here this lovely Monday morning to hear about my sinus troubles; it's time for a MONDAY HOLIDAY UPDATE!

Today's holiday is excellent, though it makes me a bit sad. It's Miniature Golf Day, which is an AWESOME holiday, I agree. However, we once had an amazing mini-golf course just a bit away, all pirate themed and amazing. I knew the tricks to the holes, I knew when to stand under the volcano, I knew it was the best course available. When they tore it down for a strip-mall, not a soul was pleased, and now the closest mini-golf is too far away. Regardless, today is best celebrated on the course. And remember, as Phineas and Ferb say, "It's not just golf in miniature!"

Tomorrow's holiday is largely the most awesome holiday a pachaderm could wish for- Elephant Appreciation Day! Not just a holiday for republicans, this is a massive opportunity for you to trumpet your appreciation of the largest mammal around. Don't be a dumbo; get to your local zoo and get with the appreciation!

Wednesday is both Checkers Day and Dogs in Politics Day. Now, these seemingly unrelated holidays are actually the same; just with different names. While you certainly could use the opportunity to play a game of checkers and mock Illinois for our fantastic history of politicians, the origin of the holiday is from Nixon's speech 57 years ago Wednesday, where he did some political talking and concluding with announcing their dog named checkers. Bo Obama doesn't even have a holiday named twice about him (yet)!

I'm not sure what a virgin Cherries Jubilee would be like, but I'm bound to find out for Thursday. It's Cherries Jubilee Day! I've never had it before, but the descriptions sound an awful lot like a more exciting, lit-on-fire version of a gluten-free cherry pie a la mode. And that sounds delicious. Bring on the holiday!

My friend Jenny is going to be over the moon when I tell her what Friday is. It is, my good friends, Native American Day. Jenny and her family are half Navajo, and ridiculously proud of it. Really, a lot of people have Native in their blood (especially Cherokee- they seemed to really get around the gene pools) and even those of us who don't still have reason to appreciate this culture. The way early Americans treated the natives was probably the jerkiest thing we ever did to a massive group of people...it makes the mormon expulsion look like free cookies. So I'm glad they get at least a holiday. As well as a bunch of other "I'm sorry!!" gifts like Sacagewea on the dollar coin and Sitting Bull chillin' out by Mount Rushmore.

As the fourth Saturday in September, we get to celebrate a holiday my mom would most likely rather not exist- International Rabbit Day! This UK inspired holiday honors rabbits for all the reasons my mom cares only to ignore...they're cute, fluffy, little, bouncy, are cause for excellent books like Watership Down, inspired Bugs Bunny, and are superb battery spokesanimals. There are millions of other examples, but I think I'll save them for Saturday. Just lookit that bunny rabbit! How could you NOT love such a little bebbeh?! D'awwwwwwwwwwwww.

Sunday's holiday seems kind of lame in comparison to the rest of the week. No offense, cans, but Crush a Can Day doesn't THRILL me like it should. Perhaps it's just because I'm not very good at it...but I'm sure I'll get my practice. No can shall go uncrushed!

"When I See an Elephant Fly" can be found in Dumbo and should be watched on Tuesday

I've Never Owned a Parrot

Arr, mateys; remember ye not what today is? Sure as ya peg-leg, it's Talk like a Pirate Day, ye scurvy dogs. Renders this job nasty as I be too much of a land-lubber for blabbering just right, aye? My blabber on Ye Olde Facebook be set to Pirate fer terday, and it'll be me help fer this blabberin or so. Ye lazy dogs kin skip 'till the bottom o' the barrel- I'll explain there in the prickman's tounge.

Me hearties, I's got my eyes on scrawling on this plank just aight, fer I've got a log full o' treasure te bestow upon ye- starrrtin' avast Mondee. There be this crew who call upon me fer servicin' thereabouts, an' they're piritical views be not LDS. The truth bes this, mateys- I knows not howabouts they got the numbarr of me magic parrot. But they's got a youngin' fer lookin' aftarr, which I bes excellent at. Arr, 'tis a jolly good time an' I don't give a git so longs I get me dublooms!

The Lady Cap'n sailed off fer the beginn' o' the week, leavin' the Capn' an' his first mate youngin', Han, to tend the ship on their own. After a bit o' Parley, we set up our guidelines. Mondee, Tusdee, and Wensdy, I sailed out te' Fermi Lab to be fetchin' the youngin' from them rascals at Day Care. Then, we shoved off fer home port, where I fetched the first mate his vitters an' deep blue. They've got themselves a scurvy dog as well, an' he bes quite the parrot.

Han's a cute little scoundrel, an' eats like a proper pirate. Sauce all over his mug an' bras, yarr. Mondee an' Tusdee, we shoved off fer the land-lubbin' park fer running, sliding, an' chasing them scurvy geese. Wensdy was cold as Davy Jones' heart, y'arr. So we sufficed to stay aboard the home port and sing our fav'rite rum song like good sirens- "Once Therr Was a Snowman". The kid daren't be a marrrman, but after a few good days, he done gone and learned it jus' fine and be eyein' with pleasure when I sang it fer 'im.

I be's a free lass again now, as Han's Lady Cap'n is returned to home port by now, arr. But, I miss that scoundrel a bit. Havin' something close to a job was a good pace to follow. Avast, if I had still been 'a working, the rest of me week would'a been off the plank!

Thr', I had three o' four mateys come to me ship to watch the magic box play a showin' of "iCarly". Me hearties Jenessa, Josh, Jenny, an' Sarah came over an' it was right jestin'. But the ending was sharkbait, ye gather!

A few turns o' the hourglass later, we all shoved off fer' our other hearty with plenty o' booty's home port- he has his own giant magic box fer' movin' portraits te' eye with pleasure. So our church crews met there fer the movin' picture; aptly named "One Man's Treasure", arr. It was fine enough, but not the booty a good lass expects with a name like tha'.

Friday we didn't have that scurvy mistress school, so me hearty Kathy an' I fancied us some poultry from KFC fer a right rumfest on the lawns of the villianous' port a ways off. When we returned to my port, there be quite the sight on me deck- scrawled in chalk, "Alaina is [ice]cool Date Tonight?" which was foolhearty, mateys, fer I'd already parley'd with the matey who was scrawlin' an' already accepted. But there be booty on me deck, so all was pleasur'bal.

That date was pleasur'bal, too, yarr! Me hearty Jenessa was the lass fer Christian, an' the date was docked at his home port. I was the lass fer me hearty Josh, an' we all doubled. We prepared our vittles te be tinfoil dinners, with IBC rum an' all. Then, we scoured for a movin' portrait ter eye an' settled on anchorin' with X-men 2. Aye, a fine choice, me hearties! Afore we left fer our home ports, we spied the work of our villanous mateys- banners and Jolly Rogers flappin' o'er the branches!

We plundered ourselves some frozen cream afore docking home, an' I say- tha's be the perfect way to seal a night o' proper piracy, arrrr.

(Now, again in English for all you land-lubbers. Or people who choose to read this on a day other than Talk Like a Pirate Day and don't want to be frustrated.)

Hey guys; remember what today is? Sure as heaven, it's Talk like a Pirate Day. Makes blogging very hard as I'm too much of a not-pirate for getting the idiosyncricies just right, eh? My language on Facebook is set to Pirate for today, and it'll be my main help for this blog writing. You lazy readers can skip to the bottom of the post- I'll explain there in proper english.

Guys, I need to write a blog because I have a lot to tell you- staring with Monday. There's a family who calls me for babysiting sometimes, and they're not LDS. Honestly, I don't know how they got my cell phone number. But they've got a kid to watch, which I'm pretty good at. It's fun and I don't care HOW they got my number as long as I get paid!

The mom went on a business trip at the beginning of the week, leaving the Dad and their kid, Han, home alone. After talking and meeting for directions, we got it set up. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I went to Fermi Lab to pick up the little boy from Day Care. Then, we went home where I got him his dinner and water. They have a dog there, too. He's loud.

Han's a cute little boy, and eats SO MESSY. Sauce all over his face and arms, even when there's no sauce to eat! Monday and Tuesday, we went to the park to run, slide, play, and chase geese. Wednesday was crazy cold. So we stayed home and sang "Once There Was a Snowman". The kid isn't mormon, but after a few good days he learned it enough to sort of sing and dance and loved to watch me sing it for him. Over and over and over...

I'm not wathcing him anymore, as Han's mom is home by now. But I miss him a bit. And a job was a good pace to get used to. something close to a job was a good pace to follow. I guess, if I had still been working, the rest of my week would have been nonexistant!

Thursday, I had four friends come over to watch "iCarly" on the TV. My friends Jenessa, Josh, Jenny, and Sarah came over and it was hilarious. But the end was lame!

A bit later, we all left for our other (rich) friend's home- he has his own inflatable movie screen in the backyard! So our combined wards met there for a movie; aptly named "One Man's Treasure". It was good enought, but not as good as it should be with such a piratey name.

Friday we didnt' have school, so my friend Kathy and I went to get KFC for a picnic on the lawn of our rival school, Neuqua. When we got home, there was quite a signt on my driveway- written in chalk "Alaina is [ice]cool Date Tonight?" which was silly, guys, because I'd already spoken with the guy who was asking and already accepted. But there was chocolate coins on the driveway, so 'sall good.

The date was awesome, too! My friend Jenessa was the date for Christian, and the date was at his house. I was Josh's date, as we doubled. We prepared tinfoil dinners with IBC rootbear. Then, we picked X-men 2 to watch. A fine choice, guys! Before we left for home, we noticed we'd been TP'd. And helped clean it up, of course.

We went and got icecream before going home, and I think that's the PERFECT way to end the night. Arr.

"The Pirates that Don't Do Anything" can be found in Veggie Tales

Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (MHU)

I like this week because we only have four days of school. No school on Friday yaaay. And every week starts with a Monday, and every Monday needs a good ole' fashioned MONDAY HOLIDAY UPDATE!

Today's holiday has great news if you opened this right at 4 in the morning; you still have time for breakfast! It's Cream-filled Donut Day! I remember the first time I saw a Cream-filled Donut. I believe I was at a friend's house, and the concept utterly baffled me. The point of a donut was to have a hole through it; wasn't it? Why on earth would anyone fill that hole? My friend assured me the cream was delicious, so I was brave and grabbed one. Mine was Jelly-filled. I was so upset I swore to never eat one...about ten years later, I did and hooboy. I certainly love them now! It's like eating a heart attack!

I appreciate the managable duplicity of Tuesday's holidays...it is Make a Hat Day and Felt Hat Day! WELL that sounds like a serindipitous combination. I know what I need to do Tuesday!! If there weren't school rules against it, I'd encourage wearing your creation, too!

Wednesday's holiday is quite legitimate....actually, it's full of legitimate holidays. Working Parents Day, Mexican Independance Day, Mayflower Day...a lot, trust me. But the best one is without a doubt Playdoh Day. Ah, the memories I have with playdoh...we treated each other well. It's such a pleasure and still so amazing to play with even at the ripe old age of almost-eighteen. Really, the only difference between how I play with it now and when I was younger is I'm a lot more finicky about putting the colors away in the right container. Oh, and I don't eat the playdoh that gets stuck under my nails.

If you ever feel down on yourself, you should like Thursday's holiday. No, it's not Think Positive Day or anything (that was YESTERDAY, guys), but it IS Citizen's Day. And, most likely on purpose, also Constitution Day. A wonderful day to put out the flag, fo sho! It's a day to celebrate our rights and responsibilities as citizens under our great Constitution. I had to read a lot of it this summer for Government; it's a good document, let me tell you. I encourage you read it today and think of yourself as a truly worthy citizen.

Now that you're all pondered-out, you can feel really American this Friday. It's Cheeseburger Day! Recently, I've discovered I love almost everything on a cheeseburger...I used to be a cheese-only kind of girl (shame shame) but now, I recognize that topping a cheeseburger is like an art. An art which does not need pickles or mustard (yet). And I can't wait to indulge on our day off from school!

Saturday's holiday is one of the best-known unkown holidays out there, and I'm so pleased it's coming up this year...I'm honored to announce it is once again Speak Like a Pirate Day! Most people last year found out about it through facebook, actually, but it's a seriously popular day and I completely endorse its celebration.

Sunday is National Women's Friendship Day. I have to say I appreciate that these reverent holidays all fall on a Sunday (with some exceptions)...although there's not much to say about it. Yay women! Yay friendship! Yay Sundays!

"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" can be found in Veggie Tales and should be sung on Saturday.

These Things Will Change

I haven't got to put anything from Computer Graphics here in a long time! It's nice to get back to it.

This year, I'm in Computer Graphics Independent Studies, which is awfully exciting but the only difference is that (at least in theory) the students create their own assignments to match Mr. Gehl's due-dates. But Waubonsie is a very active community full of events, celebrations, and empty walls just begging for posters...so quite often, Independent Studies ends up being students receiving assignments from random teachers with their own due-dates. And of course, those due-dates never match up with Mr. Gehl's.

But honestly, I'm not complaining. I want to be a graphic designer in the future, so this has actually been something I've been looking forward to since Computer Graphics I. Recently I got my first chance at a project like that, and it was actually for Warriorfest- a huge honor! Considering most kids get assignments like making the programs for a low-attendance event or a poster to motivate teachers with the school goals, this is awesome. People actually go to Warriorfest, and will therefore actually read my poster. (or try...there's a lot of words. It's not like anyone is gonna have TIME. But I tried to make it legible!)

Plus, it's going up "around both the school and the community", so it's definitely legit. Here it is, dearies-
Personally, I think there is WAY too many words and too much visual stimulation. But we couldn't cut any words and the fireworks were specially requested to be repeated multiple times.

This poster has taken me about two weeks because I had to change it SO MANY times. My original was a lot simpler, cleaner cut. It had hand-illustrated feathers and a spear that were actually pretty easy but very nice-looking. However, Mrs. Fay (my "employer" one could say) thought they didn't match the "theme" and she wanted a background and more popping and stimulation and stuff.

It's evolved so much and not always in a direction I love. I'm certainly pleased with it and will doubtlessly point to it with pride and inform everyone in the vicinity that I made it. But graphic designers always have to deal with their well-loved ideas being ripped apart and de-creatified or ruined.

That's about it. No exciting epiphany or description or anything. Though a bit of bragging- I hand-illustrated all that popcorn and all those fireworks. I got a free trial of CS4 Illustrator to do it (which has an eraser yaaaay) and I think I'm honestly going to miss it. Especially since whenever I illustrate vectors people come up and compliment me on them. YAY ILLUSTRATOR.


"Change" can be found by Taylor Swift

Wake Me Up When September Ends (MHU)

Look how horrible of a bloggist I've been. I haven't updated for far too long and haven't given a promised MHU for even longer! We've missed gems like National Beheading Day!

Never fear- I intend to celebrate the rest of September with fervor. Today's an apt day to start as we finally get back into "real" holidays. Besides, September itself has some excellent celebrations. Sepetember is indeed....

Classical Music Month (Mozart is my fave right now. What a genius!)
Hispanic Heritage Month
Fall Hat Month
International Square Dancing Month
National Blueberry Popsicle Month (What an odd flavor to have its own month)
National Courtesy Month (That's superb!)
National Piano Month
Chicken Month
Baby Safety Month (Never Never Never Never Never Shake a Baby)
Little League Month
Honey Month
Self Improvement Month
Better Breakfast Month (I'm all up for that!!)

Today is, as you're most likely aware, Labor Day. In case you are like me and never really cared what labor day means (I always mix it up with arbor day. Arbor day is still cooler than Labor Day. It has it's own theme song!), it does not relate to pregnancy. It's quite literally what people celebrate it for being- a break from our daily labors! So those of you with days off today, make sure you take full advantage of it.

I'm proud of Tomorrow's holiday for existing, and it is also completley legit. International Literacy Day is a UN sponsored holiday and if you're reading this, congratulations! You are in the ridiculously blessed portion of our global community to be literate. Remember how exciting it was as a little kid to actually understand what letters meant? To find your favorite letter in store names and on signs? Imagine never having that...it would be a very confusing and lame world. So go out, read some words, and look to sharing your blessing.

Wednesday is Teddy Bear Day! I actually don't have a particular Teddy Bear that I hold most dear, but a lot of people do. It seems very appropriate to have a day to celebrate them with. My favorite thing about teddy bears is their history and etymology. If you don't know the story behind teddy bears, that's lame of you. Go find out because I don't feel like retelling it right now.

As an artist, I especially appreciate Thursday, and can't wait to encourage its celebration. It is, you see, Swap Ideas Day. And I'm honestly unsure of what to write about it, besides that I'm psyched. Ideas are excellent, but sometimes you can't fulfill it yourself. This is when idea swapping rocks the world.

Friday's holiday isn't so cheery. If you're unaware, this Thursday is 9/11, and thusly National Patriot Day. It's meant to honor those whose lives were lost eight years ago, and at 8:46 Eastern US Time, we're encouraged to observe a moment of silence. I honestly hope this holiday continues to grow in meaning and respect...I know that day changed a part of my life and I remember it clearer than any other morning in my life. It bothers me that there are people I associate with who weren't even born yet (Yes, I do associate with 7 year olds and younger), and even more that my children aren't going to understand how hard Patriot Day hits me unless something similar happens to their generation. Hopefully, that something will never happen.

I am very excited for Saturday. Not because it's National Chocolate Milkshake Day, although that it awesome. Saturday I'm going to a hayride/bonfire/barndance! And I intend on loading up with allergy meds before I leave, because the barn seems to house no animals except cats and horses. But Saturday, it is going to house the finest of the Naperville Stake, and I can't WAIT. And heading home (or there...or both) I'll be sure to beg for a celebratory Chocolate Milkshake. Don't worry. :)

There are literally seven holidays this Sunday, three of which are completely legitimate and all of which are awesome. It's the perfect day for Defy Superstition Day, Granparent's Day, Peanut Day, National Pet Memorial Day, Positive Thinking Day, and Uncle Sam Day. Sheesh! What a busy Sunday! But, I have an optimistic attitude that we can defy the unluckiness of this being the 13th of September and celebrate all of these. We can call our grandparents, discuss with respect our past pets, and ask them if they remember the first time Uncle Sam came to national identification back in the 60's. And then share some peanuts.

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" can be found by GreenDay, and while it doesn't apply to my train of thought, I couldn't not honor it. That song basically WAS my 8th grade music knowledge.