Which in English means...?

Haha, I've been told that I use big words on a regular basis in my daily conversation. I usually don't realize it, but every once in awhile I'll catch myself- as in lunch today.

If you don't know of my natural aversion to condiments, the following won't make much sense, so let me elaborate: I experience a gag reflex at the sight, sound, and/or smell of almost all condiments- especially ketchup, mustard, mayo, and ranch.

At lunch, my father and brother were eating some left over hot dogs with most of "the fixin's" (Mustard, ketchup...*gag*). As I was sitting at the far end of the table from them, I asked, in these exact words, "How can you bear to assault a perfectly innocent hot dog with such horrendous condiments?!" My little brother stared. "In English, that means...?"

I laughed. :)

What's in a Name? (The Name being "Bookworm")

This was the topic of discussion in the car with my mother the other day: What defines a bookworm?

The subject came about while we were talking about a book I had been reading; I believe the author tried to paint the main character the bookish type- you know, the one that always has her nose in a book- (She'd read all Jane Austen's novels a million times through, etc.) but something about calling the girl a bookworm just didn't seem right. I couldn't figure out why.

I certainly consider myself a bookworm, as do many of you, I believe.

The dictionary defines "bookworm" as "A person unusually devoted to books or study." So my mother asked, "If that's what it means, then what separates you from her in the book world?" I struggled to grasp the right concept. Not someone who was just always reading, but someone who reads with a passion, almost...

Then something c licked within my brain as to what was the difference between the fictional girl mentioned and myself: She read so much because she was bored and had nothing else to do; I read so much because I enjoy it. I love being wrapped in another story; another world. A good book will literally give me thrills. I can't imagine that is why the formerly mentioned girl reads.

So what really defines a bookworm? Someone who merely reads often, or one who reads constantly because of the passion?

Happy Saint Patrick's day!!

When I came downstairs for breakfast this morning, I quickly realized that I didn't have anything green on for the occasion- so I ran upstairs and put on my favorite rainbow toe-socks. :)
"Life is too short to wear boring socks"

Days Like This

I love days like this; when the sky is gray and the rain is falling softly upon the earth. The air outside is frigid, but inside the air is warm and welcoming.

On such days, I feel the fictional worlds calling to me. I want to spend the day curled in my fuzzy blanket and spend the day wrapped in a favorite novel (In my case: Narnia, Jane Austen, etc.). Or I want to write stories of my own; undiscovered tales pour from my fingertips to the snowy white paper; unraveling the lives of characters from my imagination that the world has yet to meet.

Or perhaps what I would want is to simply sit and gaze out the window; a warm mug of tea or hot chocolate in my hand, marveling at the wonderful world God has made.

In anyway, this is certainly my favorite type of day.

Random Updates

Whoa!! Oh my crunchy goodness!! I just realized it's been over two weeks since I last posted! Sorry about that!! There's just been rather a lack of anything to write about lately. I have about ten minutes before voice lessons, so here's a quick update on what's going on:

~Rehearsals for Peter Pan are going well- we're in the lovely blocking process. I have my lines (all 30 of 'em) memorized, for the most part, but that isn't the hard part; the hard part is really communicating what my character (Wendy, in this case) is feeling... getting inside her head, and showing the audience how she really feels about such-and-such... But anyway-

~I finished my English book for this school year!!!!! I have mixed feelings about that. I really enjoy creative writing and all, but I don't understand where in the world diagramming sentences is ever going to help me in life!! AH!

~ I have discovered Fiddler in the Roof- maybe one of my new favorite musicals in the world. The music is AMAZING!!!! I am now constantly singing "Matchmaker" or "Tradition" at the top of my lungs around the house... and outside of it :). It would be my dream to play Chava or Hodel onstage!!

~I need to go, but I'll try to write more later!!! Cheerio!

Danger! Danger!

My dearly amazing mother bought two packages of chocolate-chip-cookie dough from Papa Murphy's take-&-bake pizza shop yesterday... it's really good. Now I am only a trip to the refrigerator away from a spoonful of cookie dough at any point during the day! Eek!! I just ate about twelve cookies worth of it after lunch a today. Good time to practice self-control, eh?

First Read-Through

Woooo!!! First read-through is done!! I was surprised to find out that I actually have fewer lines as Wendy than I did as Mr. Beaver in LWW!! Isn't that odd? Oh well. Also, my little brother actually has more lines than I do in the play, and this is his FIRST play!! What's up with that?! But I'm happy for him- and I'm happy that I'll be able to help him along with his lines ;P.

The director actually wrote this script on his own, and it's very interesting to read!! He puts very interesting twists to the story; making it more appealing to today's audiences while still being true(ish) to the original story. He slightly changed the personalities of a few of the characters, but nothing too drastic ;)! For instance, Smee is now more of a smart-alec-y, know-it-all, thinks-he-should-be-in-charge-but-too-scared-to-say-anything sort of character as opposed to the innocently oblivious character he originally was. John, the oldest Darling boy (played by my brother!!), is also a sort of know-it-all now-which I suppose he actually was in the original story... he always has the answers, or is always asking questions. My favorite line of his is before the Darlings meet Peter Pan and head to Neverland, Michael & John are playing pirates and Indians- Michael is the Indian and John is the pirate:

MICHAEL: Me Big Chief! Scalpum pirate!
JOHN: Not if I catch you first!
MICHAEL: Wendy, John's not being fair! It's my turn!
WENDY: John, be a good brother and let Michael scalp you. (That's my first line in the whole play; I love it!)
JOHN: But I don't believe that Captain Kidd would really sit still to be scalped! Do you know what's really not fair? Your historically inaccurate portrayal of Native Americans!

Yes, that last sentence is my favorite in the whole play, I think! Seriously, try saying the very last sentence five times fast!! When we got home, I was constantly asking my little brother: Do you know what really not fair?? And he would respond with the last sentence- it's super fun!

Well, I've got to go now, but more updates as events warrant!! Cheerio!

And the verdict is...

I can certainly say there was serious screaming in this household last night: My mother was e-mailed the cast list for "Peter Pan" as I was upstairs getting ready for bed at 9:30pm. Then I heard: "Oh Theresa!! There's news!!" She really drew out "news." "PLAY news??" "Yep." So I sprinted down to the computer to see the news in question; my mother then proceeded to draw out the process as long as possible before my curiosity was satisfied. "Oh, maybe I shouldn't show you now... you won't be able to sleep if I show you now." "I'm not going to be able to sleep if I don't see it, mother." So we began 20 questions."Is it the cast list?" "Yes, it certainly is." "Will I like the part I got?" ''Oh, you'll like any part, I suppose..." "Is it one that I mentioned I wanted?" "Oh, maybe..." etc. etc. "Well, why don't I just show you?" "YES!!" So she did. God is so amazingly wonderful. I am cast as WENDY DARLING!!!!!!!!!! I saw that and screamed!!! Which is odd, because screaming is something I don't normally do, but I guess this was an exception!! To top it off, my little brother will be playing John, my little brother in the play!!!! Did I mention that God is so amazingly wonderful?! So I called my sister, even though it was ten-thirty at night where she lives, and she answered at got all excited for me!!

I did about fifty million happy dances and whoops before I finally got to bed; and even then I didn't even attempt sleep til about midnight. But it's all good!! Thank you all so much for keeping me in your prayers!! Please continue to do so and wish us luck as we go along!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!

The cast list for "Peter Pan"was supposed to go up yesterday, but it didn't, so I'm still waiting to find out!! Keep up the prayers please!!

TOMORROW!!!!- *Edited

Peter Pan auditions are TOMORROW!!! =D Please keep me in your prayers & wish me luck!

*Edit 2-12-09

Dang, what is it about auditions that make one's self so nervous? It's odd, though, or well, maybe this is normal, but until I woke up yesterday I had no problem whatsoever with the idea! Then when I got up, I was absolutely shaking- more out of excitement than nervousness, I think, but who knows? When the time came to actually read for a part, the butterflies had gone away! Very interesting.... Overall, I think it went pretty well! I don't know that I'll get the part that I originally wanted (Wendy), but there are so many fun parts in this play that I'm sure I'll have a blast; I just love being onstage!! The director said he would post the list on Friday, so I'll let you all know soon what the deal is!! Thank you soSOsoSOso much for all your support!! God bless!! Cheerio!