Oh mann. I love that book. 

At first I was like oh.. that's what its about.

Some rich guy.

umm.... okay.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had."

"Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope."

"It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further...

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

If you haven't read the book. I highly recommend you do before reading further as to the fact that none of it will make sense. 

*Caution of Spoilers*

The first two quotes are explaining why the narrator's opinion is unbias and honest. The reason I love these quotes are because of how it explains that judging others is easy and unfair, while not judging is hard but a matter of infinite hope. And infinite, undying hope that the actions that we see of a person are not the sum of who that person is, the hope that there are some unseen, fair motives between actions, and the hope that we just don't understand the situation enough. These excuses forcing us to give every person the benefit of the doubt.

I love Gatsby's firm motivation in achieving his dreams.  Although he became wealthy in not a legal way, his plan of going out in the world and achieving something great and that he was going to improve himself everyday was inspiring. The fact that his greatness that he wanted to achieve was love is even more inspiring. He was a genius and a hardworker. Someone who yearned for self improvement and success.  That is what I want. I want to improve myself so that i can be the best I can be, and accomplish greatness in my life, even if those great accomplishments might not seem great to everyone else.

So I definitely think that this book could have been longer and described a lot more of the details of particular events but nonetheless I enjoyed it. The whole mystery of "the great gatsby" and when you finally find out he's just a guy who's desperately in love with a girl, you're like oh. And then you learn the whole romantic story and the perserverance and longterm plan he had to win her love. Although he is not an innocent man of the law, he is a great man, that Nick helps you to love and adore. Adore him for his dreams and vision his hard work and willingness to achieve and put Daisy above himself every single time. 

And then the sad part when you realize that Daisy, Tom, Myrtle, and Jordan even through the entire book, remain the shallow and selfish people who are materialistic and don't care for the inner heart.  

"It is often difficult to admit that someone you love is not perfect, or to consider aspects of a person that are less than admirable."

-Lemony Snicket

Gatsby doesn't even see the shallow and self absorbed person that Daisy is, due to the pedastol that he has put her on. She is his dream, and he can no longer see anyone else as greater than her.

It's also interesting to see the relationship between Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. He is so honest and she is such a liar.  

I love the fact that this books has quotes that I can enjoy and relate to my life. Like when Wolfshiem says in regards to his unattendance to Gatsby's funeral, that its more important to show your friendship during their life than after that life has ended. That is so true, I'd rather a person was a friend to me when I was living rather than show up at a funeral as someone who hasn't talked to me in years and knew me but didn't KNOW me. 

Anyways. I love this book. It's a thought provoking read for sure. :)

Sweeter on the inside

Today. Today She has officially moved in. Somehow she has crawled into my heart and brought all her stuffed animals along with her.

The little girl I babysit, although she can be difficult, I know it's never her fault.  Although she can drive me crazy. I'm sure going to miss her when I'm gone.  

Although she won't ever go down without a fight, I know that its just because she is a fighter. Not necessarily the fist throwin kind, but the kind who won't do what someone else says if it is against what she strongly believes.

She has reached my heart and I love that little girl. She is so sweet, and so fun.

I've decided I want to know her a long time.

Reputation

I heard the most wonderful thing today.

I was flattered by the simple compliment.

In english, for our novel study of The Great Gatsby, we have been having to do these overviews and discussion roles everyday in obtaining a successful, and thought provoking discussion.

Anywho, so I found out that my friend when working on part of her overview in Physics, a guy in our english class turned to her and said, you don't have to do so much work you know. She replied and said that she knows but she felt bad and like she needed to do lots becuase I (ME!) was always so prepared and had so much to contribute to our discussions. Then they continued to talk about how I was probably going to be a teacher and that I was just so nice.

Now I remember when I was younger, in grade 6 exactly, and everyone had to write something that they liked about each person in the class for them. So for example My name was on a piece of paper and it got passed around and everyone would write something on it. I got "very nice" and "nice" so many times, and I was like wow. I'm pretty sure that's just what people say when they have nothing else.

But in the last few years I've decided that being known as nice is far from a bad thing.  I decided that I should care less about that, since trust me I remember it very clearly to this day.  Anyways I decided that I need to make sure to be nice to everyone so that I could be known as nice, even if it wasn't a big deal to be known for.

So today when I heard about this conversation my friend had with a guy I don't think I've ever really talked to, I was extremely flattered.  People think I'm nice, and hard working, and someone who could probably end up as a teacher.

Wow. Anyways this just made my day. Like SO MUCH. :)

Big News and Winter Formal

Well first things first.

My Brother's getting married!!! Woot wooot!!! So I'm flying down to the southern states at the end of this month and I am super stoked out of my mind. yes. :)

Second of all.

Here are my winter formal pictures!!

For starters, my dress!
(Bootlegger ($90) )

My good friends I spent the whole evening with :D Aren't we all just gorgeous?

 And of course Amanda was there too!

Back to Janie's house for Christmas movies and junk food!
Yes. We know how to party :)
( Picture with Ally )

Aweh. KITTY!

Someone ate ALL the walnuts. well not quite, but pretty close!

My nails <3

Janie brewing up the Cider

Yum Yum

 So you know. That was kinda awesome.

I am so grateful for these two girls. They are so fun and might I say HILARIOUS. They don't drink and neither do I. They were so gracious in quickly inviting me to join in their celebratory winter formal plans. I am so grateful for their friendship towards me.  They made the night fun for me, and we could even remember what we did. Unlike proabably at least half of our graduating class...

They be great. :)

and then, you know who came to town?!



ANNA!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

Sporting the Christmas bow

 So Anna came bridesmaid dress hunt shopping with me and my fam on Friday and then even ended up coming to the Christmas party on Saturday too. It was so good to see her. She's just so wonderful. She's kinda quiet sometimes, but she's really funny and, ya know, pretty awesome and I'm so excited whenever she comes to town to visit. I'm pretty sure its my turn to go visit her though pretty soon....

There. Now its updated. :)

Global Fest

So I wrote this a while ago, in the summer. But it has taken this long for me to get these pictures up! Anyways I just love fireworks, Like really.

I am so in love with fireworks.

They are so gorgeous and I'm still hopeing that one day a cute boy will go on a date with me there so we can cuddle up under the sky lit up with the beautiful bursts of colors!

Anyways friends are fun too. haha

I went twice and watched once on the lake too this year.  

Here are my pictures of the Phillipines night, which actually won this year's competition.

We arrive at the park and claim our seats!

Enjoy

And we try the MIO straight up yo.

The snacks we brought from our tree!

And the Show Begins!

I always love how this kind feels like its showering down on you. <3

Anywho, Toodles!

Dark Blue, Dark Blue

Slow down.. this night's a perfect shade of
Dark blue (dark blue)
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room when I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning down
Dark blue (dark blue)
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room well I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning 'til there's nothing but dark blue..
Just dark blue

~Dark Blue by Jack's Mannequin

And it was like slow motion,
Standing there in my party dress,
In red lipstick,
With no one to impress,
And they're all laughing,
As I'm looking around the room,
But there's one thing missing,
And that was the moment I knew

~The moment I knew by Taylor Swift

Today was interesting. It was like a reassurance that I just don't fit in the way I used to. 

There at the Christmas party, I felt so lonely, yet there were people everywhere people saying my name and talking to me, yet I felt lonely and friendless.  People I adore and people I used to spend days on end with, never running out of things to say.  The girl who's supposedly my best friend, said 5 words to me all night. 
Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious, and I'm glad I went. My family was visiting with friends and talking and dancing. And it was still fun to some extent. Maybe just not as phenomenal as I had hoped for.

I would put on a smile and dance and visit but it was still lonely.  Fake smiles and laughs are almost more lonely than none it seems. 

Pointless, small talk and conversations to make it through each quarter of an hour.  

It was just a little disappointing since I was looking forward to this so much. Like every year, laughing and dancing with my friends yet this year, my friends just seemed so distant to me, or maybe more likely, I was more distant from them. 

How terrible the feeling.

Well, thank goodness for sister missionaries.

I talked with the sister missionaries, they are so wonderful.  They bring light and joy into my life everytime I talk to them! They are so marvelous and brilliant.  I adore them and I really do hope to be as great as they are one day when I'm a missionary. 

So, yes. The answer is yes. I felt alone in a crowded room.