In The H-Town Heights, or, Why My 'Hood is Better Than Yours.

Today, I felt like letting senioritis take over me! Since the weather was fabulous, I decided it would be a great idea to go biking around my 'hood, the Heights. Here's what happened on my adventure:

Stop #1: the little free library. Only a block from mi casa. Isn't it cute? Kids can take/put books in and out. Such a creative, great idea. I so wish I had this on my street when I was younger! Makes me smile :).

Stop #2: Bike paths! Bike paths everywhere. The women in front of me had a little dog in a basket on the front of her bike, which unfortunately you can't see in this picture!

Going further down the bike trail. If I went further, there is a great view of Downtown past all the trees. I decided to take the road less traveled down White Oak to some side streets and see what I would encounter. I didn't end up where I exactly wanted to (that's my navigational skills for you), but I did see another thing that makes me REALLY love the Heights.

BAM. Bad ass Victorian style homes. This blue one caught my eye, and I just had to take a picture.

Only a few houses down were these lovely Victorian homes as well! Aren't they pretty? Seeing these gave me the idea to hunt down my absolute favorite home in the neighborhood. But first, to find Harvard street, which is where it's located. I stopped my house stalking to try and get my barrings on exactly where I was.

Oh, yeah. Another thing common to the Heights are half streets. I don't get them, and I've lived here for about a year. I'm becoming increasingly frustrated because I cannot find Harvard street when I come upon this:

There's a high school in the Heights that is really cool looking. It reminds me a lot of Sunnydale High (Buffy reference, anyone?).

Front view. It's pretty, but I actually found this by accident when I was exploring the neighborhood one day and got lost. It's my universal sign for "you've come too far, and you obviously don't know where you're going." and anyway this guy on a bike was getting into an argument with someone in a truck, so I didn't stick around for too long!

More half-streets and no Harvard street to be found. Though at this point, a cute boy walking his dog distracted me a little. Whoops :).

Hey! Signs of UT pride. Hook 'em!

Suddenly, the heavens opened up and little cherubs started singing because I FOUND THE STREET!!

Yay! I was so happy that I took a bike selfie. I sped along Harvard street until I found her (the house, that is. I'm pretty sure it's a she). 

There she is! I would live in this glorious, white Victorian home in a heartbeat!

A closer look.

I think it's so gorgeous, and the garden in the front of the house is so untamed. The pictures really don't do it justice. After snapping these pictures, I headed back homeward.

But not before running into a feline friend!! Hi kitty! All in all, I'd say it was an afternoon well spent.

The Tunnel

I open my eyes to see the grey.
All around me, bricks are rotting away.
The road leads to somewhere,
but no matter how hard I try,
I cannot reach the other side.

 

Toxic relationships

Girl on girl hate... Bashing others behind their backs... You get the picture. I'm pretty sure everyone has some kind of toxic relationship that they hold on to. Sometimes I wonder why. Why hang around that negative "energy" for lack of a better non new age-y word. These people who are often rooted in jealousy or insecurity. It's true, no one wants to verbalize a natural drift (and by that, I mean a "friend breakup", if you will) but there comes a time when enough is enough. Here's to hoping relationships like this dissipate quietly.

Poetry

Hey, I just met you,

And this is crazy,

But here's a piece of paper saying "I love you" so burn it because Big Brother is watching.

Life's toughest questions

Tenth or eleventh? 

Angel or Spike? 

Dumbledore or Gandalf? 

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Favorite Disney character?

Would you rather be a cylon or a human? 

To be or not to be?

Sweetest moment out of any Miyazaki film? 

Burn this copy of Twilight or burn this copy of Twilight? 

Sherlock or Watson? 

Those characters that you're strangely attracted to...

Don't pretend like you don't know exactly what I am talking about. We all have those characters from various movies, productions, books, etc. that are strangely attractive (maybe even taboo, in some way). Well, I'm sick and in a strange mood, so here are mine. Don't judge, just have a celebration of weirdness with me!

 This one is no surprise to anyone who knows me well. I'm in love with the world of Cirque du Soleil. This year, I got to see the touring production of KOOZA, and it quickly became my new favorite. Mainly because of The Trickster (pictured above). I'm a sucker for a smooth, suave dancer/acrobat/actor. He was enchanting, magical, and ethereal, so I guess I'm a sucker for that too.

Rum Tum Tugger, comes in at number two. He's literally a cat from the musical CATS. But a dayum sexy cat, at that. He rocks plether pants and plenty of fur, and just look at that spiked collar. He's the rock star of the cat world, and you should hear his voice on the recording! Then again what makes him a little weirdly attractive is that he is, in fact, a cat. Oh, well. No shame. 

I feel strange putting this one on here, but here we go. Alex from A Clockwork Orange for my number three. He's a murderer rapist. Yay. I think it's that smirk that the actor just does SO well, that makes him seem (almost) capable of human emotion. Or at the least, very devilish. I frequently see this type of character, and think, "maybe I'd like to be with a bad boy one day", but then I think, "mmmm...betta not".

Also...I'm seeing an (alarming?) theme of men with make-up. I guess that's what I get for being a theater girl. 

Alright, last but not least is the Pokemon Mewtwo. Yes. A Pokemon. Let me explain: I have an older brother who was very much into Pokemon cards and the TV show, so naturally I was pulled into it too. I was so young that I didn't really have a clue how to play the card games, but I thought that the pokemon were just really cute. When the movie was advertised, they showed this guy, because he was like the main character in it or something. I was smitten. I can't explain why, but my little self wanted to marry (Yeah, I said marry) this pokemon. Looking at it now, it's not even the most attractive Pokemon out there. I think it was because he was purple.

I'm done embarrassing myself now. If there is anyone reading this (Hi, Mom), feel free to leave a comment about what characters you are strangely attracted too! I'd love to hear from other people. It feels lonely on this blog sometimes.

Freedom

That wonderful moment when you feel more free than you ever have, and worries you held on too just melt away. The feeling of invincibility and self worth is incredible!

Where would I be...

Sometime I wonder where I would be without the driving force that is theater. If I had never stumbled into it, where would I be and what would I be doing. I truly love acting (in all it's mediums) more than anything. I love the process- from meeting your cast and doing table reads to your first full dress tech and final show. My heart has been really heavy lately, because as a second semester senior I am currently about to open my last show at my high school. It's tough, to say the least. It's so tough, I think, because of the wonderful people who also happened into theater that you get to meet and work with and who make the process that much more special. I really need to not be so nostalgic, but as much as second semester senior year is exciting, and as much as I am ready to get out, I will miss this theater program (and the people in it) so, so, so much. BUT, it's not done yet. So I can't get ahead of myself! I'm looking forward to a week of tech and an exciting weekend of shows.

If any of you guys happen to be reading this- I love you! Let's kick butt this week.

Success

How is success measured? Is it by fame? fortune? How you feel on the inside, or the opinions of others?

Walls

Walls,

Protect me,

Seal me in tight,

Away from the worries of the world,

Your icy stones touch my cheek,

Strangely comforting.

I'm blind in the dark,

But safe from rays that burn,

Make me unbreakable,

So that if I reach out to touch,

I can't be hurt,

Encased here,

I lie like a butterfly in her cocoon.

Communication

It's incredibly ironic when your phone turns into the thing that prevents you from communicating with people. Don't get me wrong, my phone and I are very close (as evident of the photo below). But it would be great if this temperamental beast would get its act together and let me receive and send messages accordingly. You have one job, phone, and right now you are failing miserably.

Grateful

We're often so blinded by our perception of what love is suppose to look like that we miss the love that is already around us. The love of friends and family- the people who touch us everyday. Feeling especially grateful for the wonderful people in my life today. 

"I am my own invention."- wonderland the musical

I am a weapon of mass creation

The world is my canvas

My body is my instrument

Innovation is the name of my game

With every step I take

With every thought I think

My story continues to be written

Oh, the places you'll go.

I'm torn with each new place
And I wonder:
Will I find the perfect place for me?
Will the choice be automatically made for me?
And in the end... Where will I go?

Love Letter

It's a daily battle of love and hate. I swear every night I'll never leave you, and the next morning I am forced away from you. It's "their" way of keeping us apart. I dream of your warm embrace and wish I could be near you as I sit through my morning classes. By the end of the day I am thinking of you even more. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing you after a long, tiring day. And when I finally get to be reunited with you at night, there is nothing sweeter. I love you, tempur-pedic bed!

(Was that what you were expecting?)

Motivation

I'm about to face some stuff that I have been preparing for all year (it seems). I'm getting antsy as my body and mind are telling me, "it's go time!". Lately, I've had a hard time falling asleep, and I've found that the best remedy is Pinning (on Pinterest, of course) inspirational and motivational quotes. They help allay my anxieties and stress, so I thought I would share :). Hard work does pay off, even though it seems like your goal is so far off. I constantly have to remind myself of that!

Reading these is making my heart pound! Motivation is everything.

Searching

You can search every corner of the world and never find better than what you already have. Why waste time searching when you could be enjoying?

Post Secrets

One of my favorite websites ever is called Post Secret. It's pretty amazing, if you haven't already heard of it. People send in post cards with their secrets on them, and every Sunday, some of them are posted. I've collected pictures of some of my favorites over the years, and I believe they speak for themselves! 

Secrets are powerful.

Mind Reader

Sometimes I wish I could read minds, 

No guessing, 

I'd look and know all. 

But then, 

The mystery of not knowing, 

Anticipation pulsing in my veins, 

Hopes of "what if..", 

Would cease to exist. 

To give that up would be a shame, 

So I think I'll be content, 

Just wondering.