i wanna say something.

On the road again...

I'm nineteen years old and without a drivers license. I've renewed my temporary driving permit two times in the past three years. My hatred of automobiles stems from the people who ride in them with me the most-my family. Tomorrow I have the opportunity to turn things around. I don't have the highest level of optimism about this though...

It's not even that I'm mad at my parents. If you know me, you know I'm not the kind of person to blame others for my problems. Every single time I get behind the wheel with them in the passenger side of the car I flip out. I had begun to take herbal supplements to prevent getting sick just thinking about driving. Now I've figured out the cause of my anxiety.

While I was camping Dad called the BMV. He scheduled me at Sharonville, at 9:00 AM. Thanks Dad, that's only the hardest place to pass at the worst possible time! Knowing this, he agreed to take me out driving around the test area for practice. However, the whole thing was a mess. I never even got to practice maneuverability (the hardest part) in the car I'm testing in. He still seems to think this will be no big deal.

It makes sense to me why I have been petrified of driving for so long. It's more like, I'm petrified of my parents.

I hate to say this, but I'm glad I'm going back to school in a few days. I need a long break from this lifestyle.

Intense, like camping

I got back this afternoon, and it certainly felt like home. Immediately I snatched the dog's leash and took him for a walk around the block. He was a rascal but I was so glad to see my pooch it didn't even matter to me.

A few things set in the past couple of days. For one, I love canoeing-I really had a blast rowing twenty miles with Phil. We had a great handle on it too. The whole time I wished it was only us two though. Everybody became a little overwhelming compared to the calm, serene environment we were in. Maybe we were just feelin' a bit more meditative though.

The camping portion was pleasant. Campfires + s'mores = love. Sleeping on gravel was killer though. Every one thought I was nuts for bringing along a pool raft as a mattress, but it was a great decision on my behalf!

Mohican State Park happened to be in the middle of many farms and small towns. Our campsite was about two miles away from two adjacent pizza joints. They were probably the only restaurants around. There was a Dollar General down the road too. That came in handy eventually...

On the way up I couldn't help but romanticize the tiny towns with so many old houses and landmarks. They reminded me of where I lived as a little kid. When we went on a beverage run though, I quickly disregarded any dreamy thoughts about that place. When we finally found a store, the only customers looked so trashy! I remembered the kinds of people who live in these towns. Sometimes they are humble, but other times they remain so secluded from the rest of the world. That doesn't always ring a bell with miss liberal-pants over here. I think if I lived in a place like Loudonville I would stir up some commotion.

After all the canoeing and camping business we all made it back to headquarters in Columbus. We were exhausted (Phil and I). Eventually we got up off our butts and decided to cook! The homemade (baked) eggrolls turned out delicious! The homemade sushi however did not turn out at all. I think we are too Caucasian to get the rice to stick together/cut the nori without the whole thing falling apart. Our end result looked something like a sushi burrito, which was quickly nom-ed anyway.

I really want to go on more about Kanye West, Barack Obama, gay ballroom dancers, the Fox television line up, and snickerdoodle cookies but I'm so tired from the past couple of day! Plus, I have a podcast to listen to.

One suitcase too many...

I'm about a week and a half away from school. A few days ago I kicked myself in the butt and decided to get packing. Despite telling myself (and every one else) that I would pack lightly this year, it's not turning out to be the case. Although the size of my wardrobe greatly decreased, I have so many large things including one large mirror, a bistro table and chairs, one of the ugliest futons you've ever seen, and an ottoman. And several totes. And $100 worth of groceries. I'm dreading move-in day because of this.

In between all of this I was supposed to finish packing (yes, more packing) for a short little camping trip. The grounds are supposed to be somewhere north of Columbus. I'm skeptical about it. Can I survive in the wilderness overnight?! (Probably, with the amount of gear that Phil's planning on bringing along) It will be the ultimate test to see if I can make it as a woman of the wilderness. At heart I think I am a city girl...

The majority of the time I figure we (J, R, Joe, Phil, and I... and whoever else happens to come with) will spend in canoes. I cannot canoe. I promise I'm excited though! The weather should be perfect-hopefully a tad cooler than it is here in Cincyland.

If anything I'll be snacking on fiery marshmallows and s'mores. Who can detest that?

On Broadway...

From Vaudeville to Broadway, it's all-American. I'm tired of people putting down this genre of performing arts. So you think musicals are cheesy? A couple decades ago I might agree with you, but this stuff is dying now.

I watched the pilot to Glee tonight. (Yeah, just got around to it) First off I have to give it to the pool of kids working on this show. SO talented-they all belong to be on prime time television.

It really had me thinking about what's popular to America today. There are so many artists who complain about their audience. Ballet and opera are slowly fading- too European? Classical music and Renaissance art? It's "high art". Refined, polish, and traditional. Exquisite even.

But would you consider the United States to be any of those? I don't. America is folksy, experimental, and practical. The USA is grounds to new types of thinking. It's a blend of different minds and originality.

Originally, Broadway shows would reflect the times and culture so well. Recreating a show meant good times paired with wonderful nostalgia. Today NYC has recreated to it's full capacity. Americans are bored with irrelevant entertainment.

I'm tired of Americans I know who turn their noses up at Broadway musicals. It's one thing if you really don't care for a style of music, but these people are just trying to make a statement to "look artsy". Then again, they try pretty gosh darn hard at covering up "American" branded across their foreheads.

I can't help being patriotic. It's how I was raised. I love picking out distinct "American" things that are significant in the world. The USA isn't all bad. I just wish we all would show some respect to the theatres that have been around since the beginning.