Baseball Games

Today I went to my brother's first baseball game.

I couldn't get over how cute my ten year old brother looked in his oversized uniform and curly hair sticking out of his stiff cap. It was so fun for me watching him enthusiastically sprint out to the field and come back with the same attitude no matter the number of runs the other team had made. 

It was a little awkward for me, though, because two guys from my grade that all the girls drool over were there. Despite what my friends say about them I couldn't help but be touched by the way they high-fived all the other kids and gave a cute pep-talk to the boys before the game. One of them was the umpire and it was interesting to see a usually pretty soft spoken guy yell "STEE-RIKE" loud enough so that the kids in the playground over knew what was happening in the game. I was a little annoyed with the other guy because he was texting the whole time. He was the guy that sees if they're safe or not...the "other umpire"? 

My dad got really involved and when my brother stepped up to bat he walked over to the other side of the fence to face him. He coached my brother through each pitch and chuckled at the fear in his eyes.        I was a little bit creeped out by his "involvement". Just a tad "obsessive-with-your-son's-sports".

Not really sure how to end this thought...

-- Purple Boots --

Big Sisters.

You love them. You hate them. It's never something in between. 

You want to please them, but you love the feeling of keeping them from getting everything they want.

You hate the way they barge into your room when you are *just about* to fall asleep.

Their opinion is the most important when it comes to things like clothes, boys, and everything in between. 

In my case, her failure in academics is my success. 

My failure in popularity is her success.

Will we ever meet in the middle?

Will she ever learn to take showers in less than 20 minutes? 

Will I ever be as cool as her?

Will I ever stop comparing myself to her?

I'm sure lots of little sisters feel this way...

-- Purple Boots -- 

Money + Eyeliner

After I got back from shopping with my friends at the mall I counted the money in my wallet to see how much I had left. Even though I only spent $14 on an actual thing - not food or the movie ticket - I still felt really bad that I spent money. I mean, I had planned on buying things, don't get me wrong, I had even made a list of the things I wanted, but what really bothered me is what I had spent my money on.

Eyeliner.

I spent $14 on green eyeliner that doesn't even look good on me. Honestly, it didn't look to great in the store either, but I was feeling really bad for the saleswoman and she had been so sweet to us... I couldn't just say no and leave her in the dust! Well, physically I could, but I'm horrible with guilt so I would have felt bad about it for the rest of the night.

Another curious thought is why do we put so much value to a piece of paper? Think about it. We're dealing with the same stuff that we write our homework on, that we draw masterpieces on, that we fold at the creases and create little origami birds, but in money's case it's just a different color with fancy writing and symbols. 

Just something to ponder...

-- Purple Boots --

Getting Sick

I cannot verbalize how much I hate getting sick. I can tell when it's going to happen and it's just like "Oh no. Not this". I guess 'everyone's different' but it's pretty safe to say that we all hate getting sick. In my case, my nose gets plugged up (eww gross!), my ears feel weird (what?), and my head gets real fuzzy which basically means one constant headache (in a way). And even though I can hardly breathe through my nose it gets runny so I have to carry a box of kleenex around school (talk about being socially awkward, like blowing your nose in your hand-held-kleenex-box in the middle of a conversation). 

And I totally didn't need to write that...

What really bums me about being sick, though, is that my energy gets zapped so quickly. I'll be having a great time with my friends (and don't forget the box of kleenexes!) and then I just want to sleep. It's hard for me to smile and laugh when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep everything off. Walking up stairs has me breathing as heavy as ever with a heart rate through the roof...and I'm like, "Seriously? You're exhausted from stairs???"

Even though there's nothing I can do but wait it out while taking one Mucinex a night and spraying my nose with saline I still wish I had a wand to make it all go away - well, everyone does, right?

-- Purple Boots --

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is probably one of the most stylish stores out there. Out of the arm-fulls of clothes I try on there's generally only a couple of pieces of clothing that don't fit well, and that's saying a lot for me. Besides the great clothing, the place *smells* good, too. I don't know how to identify it but after you take those first few steps into the store you are immersed in its subtle and familiar scent. 

Now if you leave out the things I just pointed out (and many more I could write), Urban Outfitters is just about the worst place to shop for one reason: price. Many people would argue that their genius fit and long-term garuntee makes it worth it, but I'm very frugal so I'm not so sure. I found the most gorgeous dress this weekend there that fit me *perfectly* and I could wear it in winter with jeans or tights and boots or I could wear it in the summer with sandals - anything! Guess how much it cost. SEVENTY DOLLARS. Is it just me, or is that just crazy expensive? Although its been days since I said goodbye to the perfect dress I still think about it and silly things like that but the truth is, is that I could never afford it while it's still in the store - which really hurts :(

Anything in about that store is either heavenly or like a sword to the heart. 

The only two solutions that I've been able to come up with are: Urban Outfitters need to cheapen it up...or I need to marry a millionare. 

Neither of them seem likely, but hey, a girl can dream.

-- Purple Boots --

Hoedown Throwdown

I am not ashamed to admit that I will be apart of the pop culture phenomenon of Hannah Montana: The Movie. But thats not it, oh no. This crazy gal is going all the way. 

I learned the Hoedown Throwdown!

Before you succumb to any preconceptions drilled into your brains let me tell you this -- it's actually really fun (and probably a work out, for those of you who think about that kind of stuff). My friends and I are planning to dance in the aisles during the movie, and even though this is no unique idea, I know it will be *a-may-zuh-zing*

To learn the dance, my two friends scheduled a two-hour intense Hoedown session which, sadly, I could not attend due to previous engagements. During lunch, we practiced and after a few days I was ready for the challenge.

I'm so excited! I really am! I'm not die-hard Hannah Montana fan but, common'! It's the END OF HANNAH MONTANA! It will go down in history...maybe. But I"ll be the old granny telling my grandkids about the time their old gramgrams danced the Hoedown Throwdown...jealous? 

-- Purple Boots --

Buses

Out of the many hours in my day, the first few seconds of stepping onto the bus and looking for a seat are the worst. I hate walking past each booth with two girls whispering to each other ora a couple of teenage love-birds sharing an iPod. The awkward question, "Can I sit here?" when you spot an empt seat is devastating because you know they don't want you there either. Why else would they have covered the rest of the booth with their bag and shoes? Then again, what can you do? Like the sign says at the front of the bust: No standees permitted. So for the rest of the ride, you have to stare at the back of the seat in front of you trying to ignore the person next to you doing the exact same thing. 

-- Purple Boots --

Angel Food Cake

*sigh* angel food cake... it's the kind of food that I'm never quite in the right mood to eat but once I take the first bite I love it. It's not too thick or dry and the taste is so simple and can be paired with anything. What really throws me off about angel food cake is the name. Think about it, a cake of food that angels eat... odd.

The perfect "accessories" for angel food cake are whipped cream (I'd say home-made 'cause the store bought is a bit bleh) and strawberries (preferably cut the strawberries in half).

Perfect after-school snack, desert for any meal, and its totally low-cal (actually I'm not sure about this one...)

So next time you're wondering what to buy at the store or what to eat... you know what'd I'd advise!

-- Purple Boots --

City of Ember

For starters, I know I would have never picked up the book "The City of Ember" by Jeanne Duprau had I been browsing through Barnes & Nobles on my own time; but like most things in life, I was forced to read it for an assignment.

I am not ashamed to admit that I *loved* the book. 

Not only did the plot make it an instant page turner, but it turns out it has a lot of symbolism (none of which I remember, of course...). The idea of a crumbling underground city struggling through increasingly long blackouts is a unique notion that makes people say, "Wait...what?" and that goes to Duprau's advantage. After frustratingly numerous times of being let down in several ways the reader discovers a tender respect for the leading characters, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. 

When I heard that they were making a movie out of the book it was one of those "Oh no..." moments where you just want to shake Summit Entertainment's shoulders hard and say "Don't ruin something great!" like they did with Twilight (I'm still hoping they'll do a remake in the next 5-10 years...). In the case with The City of Ember, though, I didn't stay as in touch with all the movie-happenings and it quickly lost my interest as disappointing cast choices for Twilight were released. I didn't even watch it when it went into theaters, justifying my absence by saying that I couldn't bear to see a good book turned to big-screen crap.

Thanks to my little siblings who were so interested with the title, though, we bought The City of Ember on OnDemand tonight and sat through an hour-and-a-half of delicious buttery popcorn and empty ice-cream bowls. So I've gotta say it: Props to Summit Entertainment! They managed to capture the essence of the book without overdoing it. They chose great, not very known, amazing actors who *understood* their characters and brought them to life in a way I didn't deem possible. I literally cringed in my seat when the big wormy thing crawled across the screen and cheered on Lina and Doon on their boat ride to the surface (there is an amusement ride of their boat endeavors in planning right about now, I'm sure.).

This is truly a must-see and must-read (for those who take the time). 

-- Purple Boots --

Twitter

I never really got the whole twitter deal but I have succumbed to social expectations. I just made my first twitter account ever. It's a bit daunting, really. I have stamped myself on the internet and there's no way to take it away (of course, that's what I did with this blog...but whatever). Oh gosh, now I'm going to feel strangely obligated to twitter on it a bunch... but that's kind of the point right: tell people the meaningless stuff going in your life? I wonder if people actually write "dude, just took a crap" or something. I would *definitely* follow them! 

Check it out, follow me if you like... 

twitter.com/allpurpleboots

-- Purple Boots -- 

Fridays

There's a bitter-sweet thing about Friday. It means a weekend chalked full of Breyer's ice cream, That 70s Show reruns, and my pajama pants. I love waking up at 10:00 AM on a Saturday morning knowing that I don't have to have to rush between classes to make it on time or sit through 40 minutes of torture in a different language (thank you, spanish class). Weekends are the epitome of relaxation and crazy late nights. 

The sad thing about Fridays is that there's only two more days until Monday, which means five more days of school, and then another weekend, and the pattern keeps going on and on. I hate those moments of realization late on Sunday nights when I remember I have a big project due on Monday that I haven't even glanced at or five chapters to read of the most confusing book ever (don't forget to *annotate*). 

Friday's are perfect because, for two days, you can forget the complicated formulas for math and how to separate mixtures using boiling point in science. Sundays are poisoned because tomorrow is Monday and your short-lived freedom is taken away. 

This topic could be discussed forever, and, sadly, I'm having a really hard time finding more positive things about weekends than negatives. 

Here are some of my personal thoughts, unedited: We should have three day weekends. I mean, it's scientifically proven that our teens need more sleep but school has such a rigorous schedule that it impedes on our natural brain development or something. Think about it, Saturdays = hang out with friends day, go to the mall, movie, dinner. Sundays = church (if your family's into that kind of thing), relax chill day. Monday = homework (if you have any). It works perfectly! Why can't school administrations see the logic in that?

Sorry this is a more "rant and rave/teen angst" post...

-- Purple Boots --

Top Ten Weekly Favorites

This week's favorites...

Songs that give me the *chills*

Some Will Seek Forgiveness - Underoath 

(a bit slow in the beginning, but beyond words)

Falling in Love - Falling Up 

(i don't know what it is about this song, but it just gets me)

Merry Happy - Kate Nash 

(total sing-along. i love her!)

Blackbird - Sarah McLachlan 

(its a cover of the Beatles song, but still pure amazing-ness)

A Wish - Gregory and the Hawk 

(classic, i sing it all the time)

Plasticities - Andrew Bird 

(this is the kind of song you imagine as a music video)

You Don't Know Me At All - Ben Folds 

(i HAVE to dance along to this every time!)

Cedo ou Tarde - NX Zero

 (it's in portugues, so i'm sorry if you can't understand it, but its simply beautiful)

Richman - 3OH!3 

(*ahhhh* i love them! this song...just wow (: )

Trashbag - Broken Toy Airplanes

 (it was in my head for weeks - in a good way.)

What are some of your favorites?

-- Purple Boots --

Best Christmas Present

Every few years, whether it's for Christmas or Hanukah or any other holiday-gift-receiving-event, we receive that one gift that really *gets* us. It's the kind of gift that you ask for too many times, or only ask for once and hope they remember your request. This is the gift that you keep even after it has been worn down and doesn't have any real value besides the memories it holds. 

When you open your first present, tearing through the wrapping paper and grappling for the tape, your heart sinks when it's not the *that* gift. It's the last gift after all of them have been open and your hope is almost lost. In some cases, it's the very first gift you open, patiently, trying to keep your hopes low in case of disappointment. But after you know you have *the* gift, you can't contain yourself. After each present you open you keep going back to the first, touching it, feeling it, admiring it's total essence. 

For me, that gift was a pair of purple boots.

- Purple Boots -