Tuesday, December 21, 2021

July/August/September/October/November Wrap-Up


JULY

BOOKS I READ

3.5/5

One-sentence review: Decent productivity tips, but definitely geared towards somebody who works a typical 9-to-5 office job.

 

4/5

One-sentence review: Bisexual "Grease" retelling, but the love triangle wasn't that compelling.

 

2/5

One-sentence review: Mediocre advice delivered in a boring way.

MOVIES I WATCHED

5/5

One-sentence review: AMAZING musical adaptation with a fantastic cast - vibrant and funny and joyful.

OBSESSIONS I ACQUIRED

"Desperate Housewives" - This show is if "Jane the Virgin" were a suburban murder mystery. It's funny, addictive, and wildly entertaining. My mom and I binged all 8 seasons this year and loved it (minus season 8 lol)!

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

"Rock of Ages" cast photo - LOVED those costumes and that set!


AUGUST

BOOKS I READ

2.5/5

One-sentence review: Written by the same guy who wrote How to Listen with Intention, but this book had slightly more interesting stories.

3/5

One-sentence review: Interesting enough information about cool psychological theories, but I was bored by the anecdotes.

MOVIES I WATCHED

3.5/5

One-sentence review: Funny and fun for theatre fans, but forgettable.

PICTURES OF THE MONTH

The "Consent Event" crew

My awesome roomie and ADP "big!"

The Breakaway exec board

The Alpha Delta Phi Society siblings (before six new members joined this semester!)

My suitemates 💖

SEPTEMBER

QUOTES I WROTE

Tell Me Something Good

something I can hold in my hand,

cupped like fireflies in shaking hands,

cradled like starlight,

a child’s snow globe.


something delicate,

something secret,

something fragile,

a marbled mosaic.


Even though you’re more fascinated

with the floor

than my eyes,

I’ll pretend

there’s a reason.


I wrote a prayer for you,

blood for ink,

shards for pens.


I fumbled all my yesterdays.

Suture my split lips—

they cannot write your epitaph.


-a draft from my poetry class

PICTURES OF THE MONTH

Bid day for ADP!

Leather jackets, because we're cool 😎

At a five-star event for Greek life


OCTOBER

BOOKS I READ

5/5

One-sentence review: Heartbreakingly beautiful and so, so important - a true work of art.

MOVIES I WATCHED

3.5/5

One-sentence review: A little cliché and cheesy, but a necessary set-up for the trilogy.


4/5

One-sentence review: An engaging slasher with a good cast and a decent twist.

4/5

One-sentence review: Probably my favorite of the three: entertaining, scary, gory, and a good end to the trilogy.

QUOTES I WROTE

What’s in the Back of My Closet

Combat boots

and broken heels,

socks with holes, holes in soles,

soulful letters, ancient poetry—

Sappho’s,

Sarah’s Polaroid photographs,

Silly String, slips from fortune cookies,

tattered scripts.


And a girl—nestled

in the folds

of discarded homecoming dresses—

Cinderella’s shoe,

her matted tresses.


-another poetry class piece

PICTURES OF THE MONTH

I got to see my one-act play "Ghost Light" come to life onstage this semester and it was an AMAZING experience. Exactly how I pictured it!


ADP Big/Little reveal day!

Late-night horror movie snacks

S'mores during fall break

Late night "Desperate Housewives" snacks

Bennet family photo

"Pride and Prejudice" cast photo

I custom made Big/Little shirts and absolutely love them

This year's Halloween costume: Meg from "Hercules"



Sisters!

Photo credit: Mark Garvin

Photo credit: Mark Garvin

Photo credit: Mark Garvin


NOVEMBER

BOOKS I READ

3.5/5

One-sentence review: It was fun to read something by Misha Collins, and I liked the simplicity of most of his pieces, but it definitely felt like he was only able to get this published because he's famous, not the greatest poet.

3.5/5

One-sentence review: Weird as FUCK, but definitely entertaining; I still don't entirely understand it.

4/5

One-sentence review: Sarcastic and bawdy and fresh with a great ensemble cast - I'm so excited to be in this next semester.

MOVIES I WATCHED

3.5/5

One-sentence review: WEIRD, but mostly in a good way - definitely a movie that's more fun to watch with friends than alone so you can make sarcastic commentary the whole time.

4/5

One-sentence review: A pretty good spinoff and a fun police/detective mystery, but it was missing those early "Saw" movies charm.

5/5

One-sentence review: I've never seen/heard this musical before but WOW was this an excellent movie: fantastic rock-musical score, amazing acting, and a compelling story that will make you hyper-aware of your own mortality and inspire you to create more art all at the same time. 

OBSESSIONS I ACQUIRED

The unofficial "Bridgerton" musical - Not gonna lie, I think I might like this more than the actual Netflix series LOL. The fact that two young artists on TikTok got so much attention from their original work that this album now has millions of streams and is nominated for a Grammy alongside official Broadway musicals is really impressive and a testament to their talent. I have never wanted to be a soprano more just so I can sing these songs.

"Red (Taylor's Version)" - Unless you've been living under a rock, you're well aware of the phenomenon that is "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)." If somehow you still haven't listened to it, go do so now, because it is definitely worth the hype. But instead of embedding that here, I'll share one of my favorite songs from the vault, which is "Nothing New," the collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers. It's melancholy, bittersweet, and beautiful.

QUOTES I WROTE

Morning Moments of Meditation


We take our coffee like we spin our tales:

with cream for flavor, black for secret songs.

To swirl the pool is to blend in details:

the curling steam reminds us we belong.


What music comes from milk and sugar heat,

from cool glass rims of cinnamon and foam.

Our spoons clink out an effervescent beat

and give us shelter when our minds must roam.


If only we could turn the clocks to rain

and let the liquid morning slip away.

I fear I must make peace with plain

whenever I slip out of the café.


It may not solve our problems—call our bluff.

To sip another cup is just enough.


-my attempt at a sonnet for poetry class

PICTURES OF THE MONTH

Boosted!

Gifts from my littles!


ADP initiation day!


Corn maze with friends

Breakaway improv night

UCDC dance concert

ADP "Speakeasy" event

Decorating for Christmas!




How was your summer/fall?