Tunes - Must Get Out -- Maroon 5
Mood - Interest piqued
Something weird happened today. Jesse handed me a note during lunch, saying, "I don't know who it was, they just said to give it to you."
Thinking it would be something stupid, I opened it with caution. I found nothing that I expected.
The letter reads as follows:
Congratulations! You've found the first clue! This piece of paper along will send you on a journey unlike anything you've ever experienced in your life. Don't try to guess who this is, Mackenzie (insert my last name here). You won't. I've observed your actions well. You are 14, love to participate in plays and lavish in reading and writing. You especially love to write "Fanfics," and Phantom of the Opera is your all-time favorite movie, I know one of your favorite rooms in the school, and it is where your journey begins.
In a room with computers lining a desk,
Books galore, and fine ladies at best.
You'll start towards the back, where nobody goes
In the nonficiton section with an author you know.
His name is Bill Shakespeare, and something happened on the twelfth night.
I trust you Mackenzie. You'll get it right.
~ O
P.S. If your feeling lost and don't have a clue, email (insert a gmail address here). I doubt you'll have to use it though. Good luck. :)
My interest was immediately piqued by this new adventure. So right before 7th hour, I went to the library for some help. I didn't find anything. So I went back after school and ended up checking out 'The Twelfth Night' by Shakespeare. I haven't found anything yet. I'm thinking of using the email they provided for a clue. I'll regularly update this, and I've decided to start chronicaling the process of this wild adventure.
Until next time,
Mackenzie
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Hello Brooklyn, Hey L.A.
Tunes: "Hello Brooklyn" -- All Time Low, Nothing Personal
Mood: Enthralled
OK, I've decided sometime next summer (not this coming summer, next one) when I get my driver's license, I'm going to go on a spontaneous road trip. Hopefully after my birthday (around when I'll be getting my license fo' reals) so I'll have cash mounted up from my birthday money. For gas. I'll probably pack food and just go on a spontaneous road trip -- preferably with someone else so we don't have to stop driving except to gas up or stop for stuff -- just for the heck of it.
Since my birthday's earlier in the month of August (august 6th), I'll have the sixth until whenever school starts to fulfil my roadtrip . . . awesomeness. Assuming I get school supplies and stuff beforehand. Which I assume I will. I'll hopefully have a laptop by then so I'll be able to blog my way through my roadtrip. That'll be the awesomest thing this blog will see BY FAR.
OH SNAP ONCE AGAIN IT'S KATIE'S QUOTE OF THE WEEK.
Actually, this week, I have a selection of quotes from Katie's Halloween party last night.
*In response to Rudy falling off the cliff in Ice Age Three*
KEVIN: MY GUINEA PIG!!!
*Out on the bike trail (at like, 10:30-11:00 at night)*
DR. J (Katie's dad): Yeah, last night I was out here and I was scared. *Dons pseudo-creepy voice* It was a dark and stormy night. A shot was heard in the distance, a girl screamed *Taylor randomly, kind-of screamed*, and a pirate ship appeared on the horizon . . .
TAYLOR: This story is getting less and less believeable.
ME: *In gales of laughter*
Mood: Enthralled
OK, I've decided sometime next summer (not this coming summer, next one) when I get my driver's license, I'm going to go on a spontaneous road trip. Hopefully after my birthday (around when I'll be getting my license fo' reals) so I'll have cash mounted up from my birthday money. For gas. I'll probably pack food and just go on a spontaneous road trip -- preferably with someone else so we don't have to stop driving except to gas up or stop for stuff -- just for the heck of it.
Since my birthday's earlier in the month of August (august 6th), I'll have the sixth until whenever school starts to fulfil my roadtrip . . . awesomeness. Assuming I get school supplies and stuff beforehand. Which I assume I will. I'll hopefully have a laptop by then so I'll be able to blog my way through my roadtrip. That'll be the awesomest thing this blog will see BY FAR.
OH SNAP ONCE AGAIN IT'S KATIE'S QUOTE OF THE WEEK.
Actually, this week, I have a selection of quotes from Katie's Halloween party last night.
*In response to Rudy falling off the cliff in Ice Age Three*
KEVIN: MY GUINEA PIG!!!
*Out on the bike trail (at like, 10:30-11:00 at night)*
DR. J (Katie's dad): Yeah, last night I was out here and I was scared. *Dons pseudo-creepy voice* It was a dark and stormy night. A shot was heard in the distance, a girl screamed *Taylor randomly, kind-of screamed*, and a pirate ship appeared on the horizon . . .
TAYLOR: This story is getting less and less believeable.
ME: *In gales of laughter*
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Cirque Du Freak and Mr. Cellophane
Tunes: Mr. Cellophane -- Chicago, sung by John C. Reilly
Mood: Pleasantly surprised
I was just reading and update on Darren Shan's blog -- www.therealdarrenshan.wordpress.com -- and the post was about the Cirque Du Freak movie coming up, with John C. Reilly as Mr. Crepsley (awesomest vampire EVER.) when, all of a sudden, Mr. Cellophane came on, just as I was reading it. I found it oddly coincidential, and sat back to soak in the moment. It was pretty epic, actually.
JCR is OK, but Anthony Hopkins just cannot be beat! The guy won a best actor oscar for a movie where he was on the screen for sixteen minutes. Only sixteen minutes. That's good acting for sure!
The Cirque Du Freak movie is coming out on October 23rd. We're using as a S.A.D.D. movie, I think.
S.A.D.D. -- Students Against Drugs and Drinking, or Students Against Drinking and Driving or Students Against Destructive Desicions -- is a group at my school, which I am co-president of, along with my friend John. It's basically a drug-free program. We hold movies to help the local theater, and we do concessions at football games and stuff.
Our small town theater isn't doin'-a so well. I mean, with this economy, what do you expect? And it's even worse, being locally owned and everything. I mean, the multiplex in Hinkley is doing great, by the looks of it, but we're another story completely.
I'd write more, but I'm dead tired and have a book to read.
ciau.
Mood: Pleasantly surprised
I was just reading and update on Darren Shan's blog -- www.therealdarrenshan.wordpress.com -- and the post was about the Cirque Du Freak movie coming up, with John C. Reilly as Mr. Crepsley (awesomest vampire EVER.) when, all of a sudden, Mr. Cellophane came on, just as I was reading it. I found it oddly coincidential, and sat back to soak in the moment. It was pretty epic, actually.
JCR is OK, but Anthony Hopkins just cannot be beat! The guy won a best actor oscar for a movie where he was on the screen for sixteen minutes. Only sixteen minutes. That's good acting for sure!
The Cirque Du Freak movie is coming out on October 23rd. We're using as a S.A.D.D. movie, I think.
S.A.D.D. -- Students Against Drugs and Drinking, or Students Against Drinking and Driving or Students Against Destructive Desicions -- is a group at my school, which I am co-president of, along with my friend John. It's basically a drug-free program. We hold movies to help the local theater, and we do concessions at football games and stuff.
Our small town theater isn't doin'-a so well. I mean, with this economy, what do you expect? And it's even worse, being locally owned and everything. I mean, the multiplex in Hinkley is doing great, by the looks of it, but we're another story completely.
I'd write more, but I'm dead tired and have a book to read.
ciau.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Through With You/ day of the (actually dead) dead
Tunes: Through With You - Maroon 5
Mood: Intrigued, Tired, Achey.
I'm trying to determine my career. I'd like to be either a Chef or a Mortician.
Pretty weird variaty, eh?
And no, I'm not Hannibal Lecter. And yes, I just realized how creepy this is after thinking about that.
OH SNAP IT'S KATIE'S QUOTE OF THE WEEK.
" *Randomly throws pencil on table. Bounces* Lorry."
"What? Did you just say 'lorry'?"
"I said sorry."
Sorry, that was a bit random, but I forgot. And now that the school year is in full swing and I have five classes with Katie, we'll be sure to get alot of awesome quotes, people!
But back to my insane (future) career choices.
Let's look at the pros and cons.
MORTICIAN:
SONG: NIGHT SURGEON - REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA
PROS:
You talk to almost no one.
You get medical experience.
The dead can't complain.
It's a chance to get involved in the police force -- helping out with homicides and such.
It's something you have to think about -- you have to carefully figure out the cause of death.
Weird hours for weird people!
You don't have to be social at all.
You have to be weird for this job.
You're an importan asset to society.
You'll always be in demand -- I mean, everyone dies.
Knowing about death to a point where it seems so natural, it's not scary.
Ability to deal well with grief.
You can dance around in the morgue and the dead won't tell.
Scalpels.
CSI.
CONS:
Dealing with stiffs all day.(*rimshot*)
Rigor Mortis in males. (a.k.a. dealing with stiffies all day. *rimshot*)
Weird hours.
Probably being looked at weirdly, if people know your occupation.
Awkward conversations with people.
You have to be emotionally stable for the job.
Hmmm. Well, the pros outweigh the cons, but that last one may have me out of the running. Let's see about chef.
CHEF:
SONG: THE BAKER - THE AQUABATS
PROS:
Working with food.
It's an artsy job.
Baking is fun.
It's a theraputic activity.
You always have to taste test!
You don't have to be emotionally stable.
You can dance around in the kitchen and the food won't tell.
Knives.
Food Network.
Regular hours.
Requires skill and focus.
Playing with a color palate to get frosting and fondant colors right.
Making a rainbow-colored cake.
Bringing smiles to peoples faces with wonderful baked goodies and foods.
Awesome chef's coat thingy.
CONS:
Oh, the complaints!
Budget
Finding job
It's probably not going to be in that high of demand.
Difficulty of being accepted into a culinary arts school.
Establishing a resteraunt.
Getting the methods right.
Hmm. The pros also outweigh the cons. Well, I have six+ years to decide!
Mood: Intrigued, Tired, Achey.
I'm trying to determine my career. I'd like to be either a Chef or a Mortician.
Pretty weird variaty, eh?
And no, I'm not Hannibal Lecter. And yes, I just realized how creepy this is after thinking about that.
OH SNAP IT'S KATIE'S QUOTE OF THE WEEK.
" *Randomly throws pencil on table. Bounces* Lorry."
"What? Did you just say 'lorry'?"
"I said sorry."
Sorry, that was a bit random, but I forgot. And now that the school year is in full swing and I have five classes with Katie, we'll be sure to get alot of awesome quotes, people!
But back to my insane (future) career choices.
Let's look at the pros and cons.
MORTICIAN:
SONG: NIGHT SURGEON - REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA
PROS:
You talk to almost no one.
You get medical experience.
The dead can't complain.
It's a chance to get involved in the police force -- helping out with homicides and such.
It's something you have to think about -- you have to carefully figure out the cause of death.
Weird hours for weird people!
You don't have to be social at all.
You have to be weird for this job.
You're an importan asset to society.
You'll always be in demand -- I mean, everyone dies.
Knowing about death to a point where it seems so natural, it's not scary.
Ability to deal well with grief.
You can dance around in the morgue and the dead won't tell.
Scalpels.
CSI.
CONS:
Dealing with stiffs all day.(*rimshot*)
Rigor Mortis in males. (a.k.a. dealing with stiffies all day. *rimshot*)
Weird hours.
Probably being looked at weirdly, if people know your occupation.
Awkward conversations with people.
You have to be emotionally stable for the job.
Hmmm. Well, the pros outweigh the cons, but that last one may have me out of the running. Let's see about chef.
CHEF:
SONG: THE BAKER - THE AQUABATS
PROS:
Working with food.
It's an artsy job.
Baking is fun.
It's a theraputic activity.
You always have to taste test!
You don't have to be emotionally stable.
You can dance around in the kitchen and the food won't tell.
Knives.
Food Network.
Regular hours.
Requires skill and focus.
Playing with a color palate to get frosting and fondant colors right.
Making a rainbow-colored cake.
Bringing smiles to peoples faces with wonderful baked goodies and foods.
Awesome chef's coat thingy.
CONS:
Oh, the complaints!
Budget
Finding job
It's probably not going to be in that high of demand.
Difficulty of being accepted into a culinary arts school.
Establishing a resteraunt.
Getting the methods right.
Hmm. The pros also outweigh the cons. Well, I have six+ years to decide!
Monday, August 31, 2009
One Night in Bangkok
Tunes: One Night in Bankok - CHESS the musical
Mood: Pleasantly surprised/Excited
Today, I was on wikipedia looking for reading recomendations, and I was on the Stephen King Bibliography page, and one of the first things that popped out at me was the description of his novel 'Rage.' I got a little excited, but then I saw a little note that said, 'Out of Print.' So, a little bummed, I kept scrolling down. I then saw a familiar title, 'The Bachman Books.' I remembered seeing a hardcover of that in my mom's car trunk! I laughed at the thought, and it turned out to be a collection of short stories: The Running Man, The Long Walk, Road Work, and . . . . 'Rage.' I clicked on the link to the book's article.
Turns out this book's been out of print for over ten years in the USA. It went out of print in 1997, because of the contents of 'Rage', and something about a school shooting (I don't mean to sound ignorant, I just don't want to go into details. I'll link to the articles at the end of the post).
So, what are the odds that I stumble upon something I want to read, it's out of print, and it turns out a not-easy-at-all-to-find editon of it is in the back of my mom's freakin' car?
How often does this happen? Honestly? That's like finding a first edition copy of Susan Kay's 'Phantom' at my local thrift store, in good condition (which I'm still hoping will happen).
So, with a little mental math, the book in the back of my mom's car is older than both my little step siblings.
And possibly me. The first edition came out in . . . 1985, I think.
Let me restate this in a new way:
THIS BOOK IS OLDER THAN BOTH OF MY MOM'S MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN. AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
***Once again, I'd like to remind all y'all that banned book week is closing in on us. Look forward to awesomeness during that week.
Mood: Pleasantly surprised/Excited
Today, I was on wikipedia looking for reading recomendations, and I was on the Stephen King Bibliography page, and one of the first things that popped out at me was the description of his novel 'Rage.' I got a little excited, but then I saw a little note that said, 'Out of Print.' So, a little bummed, I kept scrolling down. I then saw a familiar title, 'The Bachman Books.' I remembered seeing a hardcover of that in my mom's car trunk! I laughed at the thought, and it turned out to be a collection of short stories: The Running Man, The Long Walk, Road Work, and . . . . 'Rage.' I clicked on the link to the book's article.
Turns out this book's been out of print for over ten years in the USA. It went out of print in 1997, because of the contents of 'Rage', and something about a school shooting (I don't mean to sound ignorant, I just don't want to go into details. I'll link to the articles at the end of the post).
So, what are the odds that I stumble upon something I want to read, it's out of print, and it turns out a not-easy-at-all-to-find editon of it is in the back of my mom's freakin' car?
How often does this happen? Honestly? That's like finding a first edition copy of Susan Kay's 'Phantom' at my local thrift store, in good condition (which I'm still hoping will happen).
So, with a little mental math, the book in the back of my mom's car is older than both my little step siblings.
And possibly me. The first edition came out in . . . 1985, I think.
Let me restate this in a new way:
THIS BOOK IS OLDER THAN BOTH OF MY MOM'S MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN. AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
***Once again, I'd like to remind all y'all that banned book week is closing in on us. Look forward to awesomeness during that week.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Recipe
OK -- I just got stressed out (i.e. angry in the blood) while reading anti-twilight stuff (I'm opposed to Twilight -- and the things these people said got me rallied up for a protest) so I decided to make some tea. I make amazing tea -- I use tea bags, just for referance. But, here's my recipe for good time, anti-stress tea.
Mackenzie's Anti-Stress Tea
Things you need:
1 mint tea bag of your choice
1 honey bear (optional)
Enough water to fill your cup/mug up 4/5 or about an inch from the top
Chocolate Syrup
Milk
Sugar
Boil your water. Use a kettle, use a pot, use a microwave, whatever.
Pour water into mug/cup -- 'til there's water an inch from the top
Use mint tea bag on water -- how strong you like it is up to you.
Add as much milk as you usually do -- same with the sugar.
Pour about three tablespoons of Chocolate syrup into tea -- actually, just do it to your own taste specifications.
Add about a teaspoon of honey, if you do that. This is actually my first time using honey on tea -- it's kinda . . . eh. It adds an extra bite of sweetness that I like to get from coffee and hot chocolate -- so, it's good. This is personally the way I like my tea. If you'd like to subsitute cinnamon for chocolate, go for it. If you wanna use molasses instead of honey, go for it! You're in control!
*** I'd, once again, like to remind readers that Banned Book week is coming up -- September 26 to October 3. There'll be a lot of goodies that week -- so stop by and see what's cooking!
Mackenzie's Anti-Stress Tea
Things you need:
1 mint tea bag of your choice
1 honey bear (optional)
Enough water to fill your cup/mug up 4/5 or about an inch from the top
Chocolate Syrup
Milk
Sugar
Boil your water. Use a kettle, use a pot, use a microwave, whatever.
Pour water into mug/cup -- 'til there's water an inch from the top
Use mint tea bag on water -- how strong you like it is up to you.
Add as much milk as you usually do -- same with the sugar.
Pour about three tablespoons of Chocolate syrup into tea -- actually, just do it to your own taste specifications.
Add about a teaspoon of honey, if you do that. This is actually my first time using honey on tea -- it's kinda . . . eh. It adds an extra bite of sweetness that I like to get from coffee and hot chocolate -- so, it's good. This is personally the way I like my tea. If you'd like to subsitute cinnamon for chocolate, go for it. If you wanna use molasses instead of honey, go for it! You're in control!
*** I'd, once again, like to remind readers that Banned Book week is coming up -- September 26 to October 3. There'll be a lot of goodies that week -- so stop by and see what's cooking!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Just the Facts
I was watching Nancy Grace the other day at like, 3:00 AM and I figured out that Nancy needs to get her facts straight. Her comment was something along the lines of:
[snip]
". . .second hand smoke increasing the chance of SIDS . . ."
[snip]
This was not a news story -- just a comment about SIDS that was redirected from a comment about smoking. I'm not sure if this was live, or anything -- I don't know what time zone it was in, so I have no clue if the idea was even logical or not -- but this is wrong.
First off, SIDS (standing for 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome') is a diagnosis that doctors give you when there's no cosmetic reason why your baby's dead. But, if they perform an autopsy, the majority of the time, it's deemed to be suffocation.
Suffocation. Second hand smoke doesn't cause you to stop breathing -- at least, it didn't do that the last time I checked. Suffocation is caused by pillows over faces, duct tape over mouth and nasal cavities, and stuff like that -- second hand smoke may eventually make you stop breathing, but not within a few weeks or anything. When things like this are mentioned by "legit" news sources -- it just makes me cringe, honestly. Because so many stupid people only go off the information they get from "The O'Reilly Factor" or "Nancy Grace" and other shows like that. In fact, these TV shows should have a warning screen showed before they air -- "WARNING! STATEMENTS THAT ARE IMPROMPU MAY BE TOTAL BULL. CHECK A RELIABLE RESOURCE BEFORE ASSUMING THAT THIS IS ALL FACT." Which, it probably isn't -- all fact, that is. In fact, this post probably isn't all fact. I doubt it, actually. I might have gotten something wrong.
In fact, most of this is opinion -- the entire blog, that is. This post is mostly fact with my opinion on crappy news programs mixed into it.
*** I'd like to remind readers that Banned Book week is September 26th to October 3rd. I'll have something fun posted every day of that week for you guys. (i.e. Banned book week cookies and lots of lists and book recommendations.)
[snip]
". . .second hand smoke increasing the chance of SIDS . . ."
[snip]
This was not a news story -- just a comment about SIDS that was redirected from a comment about smoking. I'm not sure if this was live, or anything -- I don't know what time zone it was in, so I have no clue if the idea was even logical or not -- but this is wrong.
First off, SIDS (standing for 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome') is a diagnosis that doctors give you when there's no cosmetic reason why your baby's dead. But, if they perform an autopsy, the majority of the time, it's deemed to be suffocation.
Suffocation. Second hand smoke doesn't cause you to stop breathing -- at least, it didn't do that the last time I checked. Suffocation is caused by pillows over faces, duct tape over mouth and nasal cavities, and stuff like that -- second hand smoke may eventually make you stop breathing, but not within a few weeks or anything. When things like this are mentioned by "legit" news sources -- it just makes me cringe, honestly. Because so many stupid people only go off the information they get from "The O'Reilly Factor" or "Nancy Grace" and other shows like that. In fact, these TV shows should have a warning screen showed before they air -- "WARNING! STATEMENTS THAT ARE IMPROMPU MAY BE TOTAL BULL. CHECK A RELIABLE RESOURCE BEFORE ASSUMING THAT THIS IS ALL FACT." Which, it probably isn't -- all fact, that is. In fact, this post probably isn't all fact. I doubt it, actually. I might have gotten something wrong.
In fact, most of this is opinion -- the entire blog, that is. This post is mostly fact with my opinion on crappy news programs mixed into it.
*** I'd like to remind readers that Banned Book week is September 26th to October 3rd. I'll have something fun posted every day of that week for you guys. (i.e. Banned book week cookies and lots of lists and book recommendations.)
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