Happy (late) Memorial Day indeed!

First I would like to say happy Memorial Day and that I send a very warm thank you to all of you who know someone who has died in combat.

*moment of silence*

Okay! So over the weekend I took part in a huge soccer tournament called the "Rogue Memorial Challenge". It goes Saturday-Monday and we played a total of five soccer games! As you can imagine, I'm pretty exhausted and a little beat up, too (I have a gnarly huge bruise on my ankle*). It was a tiring weekend of blazing heat and very little sleep! 

Look how shiny it is!

My team was in the U-19 bracket which basically means that the girls on the team are between freshmen in high school and freshmen in college. This also means that we play teams that potentially could have freshmen in college on them which is, I'm not going to lie, a little scary. 

So, what's the point of me telling you all this? There is a point, mind you! The point is after 5 exhausting games for three days in a row... WE WON 3RD PLACE!! And got medals which are actually, pretty nice and pretty big, too!  

Now, I know some people might be like 'Um, meh, it's 3rd place' but you don't understand. People from all around the area go to this soccer tournament. There were eight U-19 teams we had to compete against who were all really tough! Third place is quite an accomplishment (I'm actually happy we didn't get 2nd or 4th because the medals were ugly... haha). 

So I'm trying to heal myself and get back some sleep I lost over the weekend :) I figured after such a taxing weekend, I deserve a break (and some sleep). 

So happy late Memorial Day! I hope you got to go out, enjoy the sunshine, and spend time with family! (I got a little sunburned... I forgot my sunscreen).  

Me and my medal

My medal!

This week I also drew Anna from Disney's Frozen :)

* The story of the bruise -- There was a girl in front of me and I was trying to get the ball away. I got frustrated, so I kicked her as hard as I could (I know, it sounds mean). But, instead of getting her leg, I kicked the bottom of her soccer cleat. It hurt pretty bad (I have a strong kick:). So now, there is a bruise about the size of the palm of my hand on my ankle. WAR WOUND! :) 

Books & Exams & Theodore Roosevelt

     I have completed every single one of my exams, and I have ONE essay left. And I have to rewrite the Good Samaritan. BUT THEN I'LL BE DONNNNEEE! WITH NINTH GRAAAAADE!

    So, although I didn't do as well as I'd have liked on my history exam [I did do better than the Midterm], I wasn't nearly as much of a mess before or after I finished it.
    You see, my history teacher is one of my favorite people. He put a certain question smack in the middle of the exam, and not only did it make me laugh aloud, it relieved quite a bit of timed-quiz stress. 

   Behold. This picture of our 26th president wrestling a crocodile has been used as an example all year by Mr. N of why Teddy Roosevelt is the best president ever. 
   And so, with this photograph, he captioned a multiple choice question in every single answer pointed only to the first one, "Pick A," "Why aren't you picking A?" "Seriously?"
    The point of this was to share a smidgen of wisdom: If you're ever a teacher, BE PASSIONATE about your subject. 'Cuz it helps your students. I love history even more than I did before this year.

  On a different note, I reorganized my bookshelf this past week and realized that I needn't buy any more books for at least three months because there's quite I few I haven't read that got buried behind their brethren.

   ...Note the word, "needn't."

   I had a conversation with Matt the other day about how absolutely convenient it would be if I had Loki's superpower and could multiply myself whenever I felt the need.

*I would have...

   NO, but just think about it;
 I would solve my problem of never having enough time to finish books.
   I could read whenever and wherever I wished without worrying about looking rude.
     I would never actually need to go anywhere I didn't want to.
        I could get all my exams done in one day, and homework in mere hours.
           I could easily mess with people.
              And I would be able to travel and stay at home at the SAME TIME.
 
    If I can't have multiplying powers, I'd really just like to be able to solve that reading problem by sitting in the TARDIS and pouring over all my books. I would never run out of time, do you see?

   This post was random and a bit unsubstantial, but I apologize. I have no excuse. 3:

   A little update from Elly. 

   Liz, you should share your drawing of Anna because it is superb.

I love you for what's inside... hello refrigerator.

Today, I am feeling funny/inspirational. So, I have made it my duty to come up with funny quotes/pictures that may inspire you, but will hopefully give you a laugh. Because, as Elly says, laughter is good for the soul. 

  


            

Well, that's all I got! Hope you enjoyed those and got a laugh or two or maybe even got inspired :)

Maleficent

There is Disney magic in the air! Disney's latest feature, Maleficent is set to release in less than two weeks! I am really stoked. Some people (*cough Elly*) aren't sure if it's going to be good, but I have total faith in Disney. I am certain that this isn't going to be another Snow White and the huntsman (we all know how that went... also, I found out they're making a sequel! Let's hope those are rumors...). I know that this movie is going to be stunning! The cast (besides Elle Fanning... meh) is superb! Angelina Jolie makes a truly terrifying and evil Maleficent. 

Here are some stellar movie posters to get you as hyped as I am!

I love this poster!

Amazing!

Look how regal and elegant she looks!

If you can't tell, I'm really stoked for this movie! It looks awesome! I already got the app Maleficent Free Fall on our iPad sitting right next to Frozen Free Fall :) I hope that you're as pumped about this movie as I am!

And if you didn't even know that Maleficent was being made a movie, here's one of the trailers:

Maleficent

Also! (last thing I promise!) If you haven't heard Lana Del Rey's version of Once Upon a Dream, you're MISSING OUT! Here's the song:

Lana Del Rey: Once upon a Dream

DisneyBound

Hey everybody! As you all know, I am obsessed with Disney. I have always loved Disney, but since visiting Disneyland for the first time (in forever!) since I was four this past December, I have fallen in love with all things Disney even more!

So, through my browsing I discovered this amazingly cool Disney fashion tumblr called Disney Bound. Leslie Kay is the blog's author and she puts together outfits inspired by Disney characters, movies, and rides. She also takes requests! She makes really cute outfits like these:





If you like what you see here, you need to check it out! This summer, I am going to try and put some of these outfits together. It's an easy way to add a little Disney into your everyday life! Also, thanks to her success, Disney Bound is a real thing! It means along the lines of: to prepare an outfit inspired by Disney.

Seriously, go check it out! 

Go To: Disney Bound

Movie Review: Gravity

Gravity starring Sandra Bullock is a space movie. However, unlike other space movies, Star wars, Star Trek, and the Apollo movies, this movie takes place in the abyss of space right outside of Earth (and is also more realistic than lightsabers and 'beam me up, Scotty').

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on a simple assignment with Captain Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) and another fellow spaceman when the shuttle they're working on gets hit with debris from a satellite that exploded. With nothing but their wits, an increasingly fading oxygen supply, and a thin tether holding them together, they must find a way to get back to Earth while drifting aimlessly through space. 

Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences (there are many of these), some disturbing images (e.g. dead corpses floating through space and a man with a huge hole punched through his skull) and brief strong language (No F-words).

Cast:

Sandra Bullock did a very good job with this movie. If you've ever seen the movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks, this was very similar (however, it was in space). Sometimes I find her to be a bit over dramatic, but in this movie she did a very good job balancing her over dramatise with good acting. She shone in this movie. 

The rest of the cast, there are only 7 people in the cast of this movie (more than half of those were just voices), were very good as well. George Clooney did an extremely good job of portraying the stern yet humorous captain of the mission. In the beginning, however, it did take me a while to figure out who was who. But after the first, 5-10 minutes, I figured it out. 

Plot:

This has an extremely simple plot, yet it was done so beautifully and creatively that you forget the movie is simply about a woman floating through space trying to get back to Earth. If you are planning on being an astronaut, this movie might have you second guessing yourself. I never wanted to be an astronaut and after watching this movie, I definitely do not want to go into space any time soon. 

Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone
"My name is Ryan because my dad wanted a boy,"
She explains.

There is never a dull moment in this movie whether they are battling a fading supply of oxygen, debris hurtling towards them at speeds faster than a bullet, fires, losing each other, and no fuel it is constant drama and suspense. 

Special FX/Other:

I am truly amazed with this movie and the special FX. It feels like you are in space with them and I can't even begin to fathom how they even filmed this movie. The FX are stunning. However, there is a time or two when you look out from the helmet of Sandra Bullock and everything is spinning. It didn't make me really dizzy but I know that for my mom it made her a little dizzy. 

This movie is a truly grim reminder of what our astronauts risk when they go up into space. I commend them for their bravery and strength because I know I could never do what they do. This movie is definitely worth seeing if you have the time!

Score:

7.75/10

Character Appreciation: Effie Trinket

Hello and welcome back to our third installment of Character Appreciation! Today's subject is:

EFFIE TRINKET!

I know what you're all thinking, "If you're doing someone from the Hunger Games, why not do Katniss?" Well the answer to that is we all know that Katniss is a total kick-butt rockstar, it's no secret. 

So I figured, "We all already know how awesome Katniss is, so why don't we show some love to someone who doesn't get all that much of it, but sometimes really deserves it?" I thought maybe Haymitch, but even he gets shown more love than Effie. That's when I decided, I was going to show Effie some love because, let's face it, sometimes she totally deserves it.

"Practically perfect in every way."

Grated, it was Mary Poppins who said that, 

but it could apply to Effie, too.

She really does care.

I mean, look at her face. She really does not 

want to reap Katniss again.

She has perfect...

Need I say more?

Effie is also very joyful.

Chin up, Katniss!

How could I keep going without mentioning her insane wardrobe.

Look at the attention to detail! And those eyelashes!

All in all, Effie's not that bad of a person. She totally deserves some love (even though at some points in time, she can be a bit much). We love you, Effie!

Laughter bCUZ Laughter is gud 4 teh soul

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/10/menace.html

    I kind of really like Hyberbole and a Half right now. I read the linked post above and nearly died. And I also really think I need these, because then I can smack them on anything with that dread grammar mistake.

   Some of these are hilarious. Others are absolutely idiotic, so don't read them. Sometimes I don't even understand my sense of humor.

    This first video is Blimey Cow. I know must of us are probably familiar with them... Blimey Cow is wonderful in general, but if you've seen Seven Lies about Homeschoolers this one is even funnier.

    These next two are Studio C, which I just discovered as of this week. The first is pretty much how I feel while driving. O.O

    Annnd this next one made my day because HISTORY REFERENCES EVERYWHERE. Don't ask me what's up with Hamilton. I have no idea. Just watch it. >:D

   That is all. I probably won't post again until after the AP test. Wish me luck, chums. 
- Elly

P.S. So Jitterbug decided to have a little fun this morning. -_- She's not an outside cat, but I guess she can dream.

P.P.S. Ah, and May the Fourth be with you, young Jedi!

Here on Finnigan's Isle!

Hey everybody! Well, as you may (or may not) know I am in a play. It is a spoof of the classic 70's TV show, Gilligan's Island. I play the role of Mary Ann on the TV show, however in the play, I am Ann Marie. 

Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island

Dress rehearsal was tonight and let me tell you, was I nervous! During the first scene, we are all sitting at a table eating dinner and my hand was shaking so bad! My sister said she could see it from the audience! Hey, this is the first play I've ever done. 

It went pretty well, in my opinion. I only screwed up on one of my lines and even then, it wasn't that big of a screw up! My mom said she didn't notice it. 

But let me tell you, if you see a play and you see the actors sweating, it's not because they're nervous (well, maybe it is), but because the lights they shine on you make you STINKING HOT! I was dying of heat the whole play! It felt like it was 90 degrees in there! Also the room where we get our hair and makeup done in is like a 12x12 room AND there were just around...20 or so people crammed in there. Yep, it was hot! I brought a 22oz water bottle, and by the end of rehearsal, it was all gone and I was STILL thirsty!

All-in-all, I think we did a wonderful job! Here are some pictures of the Finnigan's Island cast consisting of Finnigan (Gilligan), Flipper (Skipper), Perfecter (Professor), Jerkston Yowell III (Thurston Howell III), Fluffy Yowell (Lovey Howell), Nutmeg (Ginger), Ann Marie (Mary Ann), Humabob (Native), and Squinto (Native).

(Right to left) Me, Perfecter, Nutmeg, and Fluffy Yowell

(Right to left) Finnigan, Flipper, and Me.

(Right to left) Fluffy Yowell, Jerkston Yowell, Perfecter,
Finnigan, Flipper, Me, and Nutmeg.

    

Exciting News!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say that this is the 50th blog post on Elly and I's blog!! 

Yay!

Also -we have over 1,000 blog views!! Thank you to our readers so much! You guys rock and are the best ever! This blog started way back on June 21st, 2013 (we're almost at our 1 year birthday!) before Elly had to move away :( We concocted this blog in her bedroom on her bed almost a year ago, and look what it's become!! 

So, thank you everyone for reading the many ramblings and randomosity (some of which makes no sense sometimes) that we spill out to you :) You guys are awesome!