I'm a Nerd

So, I'm gonna make this short guys, cause I have homework and stuffs to do and a lot on my plate.

So today in Philosophy, we talked about Plato's Republic and this question he brought up involving human nature and what-not. Now for those of you that are philosophers, this is gonna make like way more sense to you and you'll probably be a lot more familiar with Plato than I am. So the question posed was this: "If you had a ring that gave you the power to become invisible, what would you do with that power?" Now, to me, that sounds a heck of a lot like Lord of the Rings. Cause I'm a nerd. So we were told to write anonymous responses on a sheet of paper so the professor could read them off. Mine was best. I said,

"One ring to rule them all? Throw it in the fires of Mount Doom! Or give it to Frodo".

Now, I wasn't sure how many other nerds were in the class, so I added a more serious answer afterwards. But mine was the first nerdy one that was read aloud. There was much laughter. It actually made my day super bright. Especially when the group of people sitting behind me kept quoting it and chuckling. Math was even tolerable today because of it! Yep. How I'm judging my days at this point. But yeah, I'm a nerd. An anonymous nerd, but a nerd nonetheless.

On a completely different note: Guess what!!
I just started a 500px account! And it has pictures I've taken! So, I'm gonna add some links in this post, then add the link to my sidebar. But check it folks:
http://500px.com/micaelairene

Yeah, check that out, cause a lot of it you guys won't have seen since it's my portfolio stuff.

And with that, I bid you adieu (so I can go to do that homework and stuff)

With Love,
PolarBearMoose <3

Ren Faire!

I love the Renaissance Faire. I try to go every year. This year was special though. I got the chance to take my cousin, Lauren, for her first time (to this specific one). The NorCalRenFaire is one of my favorite places. Yeah it's hot and dusty, but the people are all so friendly. We met this one guy dresses as a hobbit. Don't know why! But we met him. His name was "Trip Bramblebottom" and we discovered, he has access to facebook from the shire! That's right folks! https://www.facebook.com/TripBramblebottom/timeline Check it out. It's pretty awesome.

Anywho, a bit later, Lauren and I ran into a "gossip rag writer" who was clearly a ren faire employee. We had a chance to tell her about Trip and the fact that he gave us buttons. Legit buttons, for luck of course. She mentioned she thought she had met fair hobbit and received a button as well, but hers was in one of the many pouches she was carrying. I on the other hand was lacking in pouches and so stored mine in what she brilliantly called "God's Pockets". I'll let you try and figure that one out. But indeed, in one of God's Pockets, my button was stored until I bought a pouch to hold both money and the button later. Conveniently, said pouch fits quite nicely between God's Pockets while wearing a corset.

Later, Lauren and I just decided to go to the Outlet Mall since I'd never been there. We didn't buy anything, but we almost did! It was quite amusing. Especially when trying to get there, we got lost. Because SOMEONE *cough* Lauren *cough cough* told me to go right when I needed to go left. Mhm. Never trusting her directions again.

Ooh! I forgot to mention. We decided next year to go as gypsies cause it's a heck of a lot less hot when you have clothes that breathe. So I got a hip scarf and a head piece to wear for next year.

But yeah! That was my day at the Ren Faire! Anyways, I should get going at this point, but I promise to blog again soon!

With Love,
PolarBearMoose <3

College and Sickness

Well, I would have posted about my first day on my actual first day, except that I got sick. I still went to class and all, but afterwards, I was exhausted. I mean it was just...ugh. I had what was most likely an allergy related cough, but it was very draining.

Anyways, yesterday was my second day of classes, but the first day that I had all five. Now I should explain that most people only take three a quarter. And as I mentioned previously, I have 5.

• Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality
• This one is interesting because at first, I wasn't sure how much I liked the class, but now that we're actually doing something, I really enjoy it.
• Also, I have this one Monday through Thursday at 9:30
• Physical Anthropology
• I have this one right after philosophy the same days as philosophy. I actually met my professor while looking for the book for her class. She seems very sweet. I think I'll enjoy her class.
• Finite Math
• Ugh. This is my least favorite. I was actually excited about Math, I'm not going to lie. And then, he started talking. I swear he sounds exactly like Dr. Nefario from Despicable Me. I kid you not. Except he's even more monotone. It's awful. Also, we're required to take notes. As in he evaluates our notes at the end of the quarter. I'm so bored by the class. I have no need to take notes either. The only thing we've talked about is making graphs. Something I learned how to do in 5th grade. And the worst part. I have this Monday through Friday. It's the only class I have on Fridays!!! WHY THIS ONE???
• Public Speaking
• This one should be fun. The teacher reminds me of my Pest & Civ teacher from high school. This guy tells stories and makes statements dripping with sarcasm. Everything he says is blunt, almost to a point of rudeness. But his tangents are fascinating and hilarious. One of his quotes from class, "You all know the phrase 'There's No Such Thing as a Stupid Question'? Yeah well whoever said that was a moron". He was explaining at the time that he just won't answer a question if h thinks it's stupid.
• Social Dance I
• The last one. So her class is actually a combination of social dances I, II, and III. I'm still not sure about this one, especially since there's no one really there my age. But I'm meeting some nice people. There's one really old Asian guy who was super good at cha cha, so I asked if he was in social dance III. He said, "You could say that". Apparently, he's been dancing for 14 years and takes this class to keep his skills sharp. It was really nice to dance with someone experienced in a class of people who really have no idea. No offense to the newbies or anything. Y'all are doing really well too.

I'm still recovering from this awful cough, so I won't be saying much this week, but stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on college stuff soon. For now though, I'm going to sign off and maybe get some tea.

With love,
PolarBearMoose 3

Earrings and Allergies

Allergies suck. Most people are really lucky to only be allergic to pollen or dust or pet dander, but usually nothing else. And then there are people with crazy food allergies. Not having one, I can't say much about it, but for those of you who do, I am truly sorry for you. And then you get these random ones that people who don't have it or know anyone with it are shocked to hear it's even possible. Such as mine. Nickel. Yes folks, it is possible. See for some people, this isn't a problem. In fact a lot of people don't even have that severe a version of this. Specifically when talking about jewelry. Now for guys this really won't apply, so read on if you want, but just don't expect it to be super relatable. Girls, do you know how hard it is to find 100% hypoallergenic earrings? Probably not, unless you have this allergy. See they make earrings in multiple alloys and metals including but not limited to: Gold, Silver, Stainless Steel, etc. Guess what? People allergic to nickel can't wear those! Even if the stainless steel or the silver packaging says it's hypoallergenic, it's not. In fact, it's likely coated with something to make it that way, but soon you'll find it irritates your ears. There are two types of metals that I can wear in earrings. Two. Titanium and Niobium. Niobium, forget it. You'll never ever find it in a department store. Just give up now. For titanium, it's not much better. You'll find that stores either don't have them, or only have the starter pairs, the ones you first get your ears pierced with. It's unfortunate really.

On a side note, guess who got their ears pierced today? This girl! But...I have to go in tomorrow to et them switched cause I guess they're too big. Hence the rant. I could barely find smaller ones :P

Anyways, for those of you with any kind of allergy, I really do feel for you.

With Love,
PolarBearMoose <3

To the Guys

I said I would do this a while ago, but I decided to wait until the last of my Lunch Bunch guys had left - or at least until the last time I saw them. Tonight, or I suppose last night since today is now the 15th, I went to my friend GI's place to play some games before he leaves for college on Tuesday. I was proud of myself for holding myself together while in front of him and his dad. But as soon as I knew they couldn't see or hear me, I have to admit, I broke down. I said in an earlier post that I would blog a general letter to them and so that's what I'm doing now. Because while I'm sure y'all would prefer if I just said it to you in person, or gave you a hand written note, I have to admit I have a very selfish reason for doing it this way. So, here I go:

Dear Lunch Bunch Guys,

I told the whole school, very emotionally, back in December about what you had done for me. And while that was an important step for me, I didn't address you specifically because I had a different message I was trying to get across. My words were not aimed specifically to you. And that's what I want to do now.

I have known you all now for roughly 2 and a half life-altering years. And in that time, I have come to consider you some of my best friends, and I don't name you that lightly. More than friends though, you have become my brothers. And boy have you taken that role to heart. Because you all have truly known me at both my best and my worst, and not many people can say they have. You are some of the few people I have ever felt I could be completely open with. And you have done so much for me when I never expected it.

MH, you brought me into the group by a simple gesture, and while I'm sure that was just meant to be a simple kindness, you did so much more for me than I'm sure you could have possibly imagined. And later, when I needed a hug or a friend to confide in, you were and are always there for me.

IN, you were quiet like me, yes, but when you had something to say, it was always like a boss. I can't imagine a better person to have had as a Student Store partner either. By the end of Senior year, we had our routine down. We were awesome. You were awesome.

RP, you brought so much life to the group. The dynamic of the group just couldn't work without you. To me it seems everything is too quiet without you. Nuff said.

RD, what would the Lunch Bunch have been without the stories of Sherlock Holmes and Utah? I tease. You taught me a lot of things about life just by telling some of your stories.

BV, I find myself always wanting to quote or reference your mannerisms at home and with other friends, until I realize I'm the only one that gets the joke.

And finally, GI. You were always the first to tease me. But in a way, your teasing made me take a different view of things. You made me think. And there were times when you weren't teasing and you asked me questions that sometimes I didn't want to be asked, because the reality was I needed the questions to be asked. And I found myself being completely honest with every question, despite the fact that I desperately wanted to hide from the truth. You made me be honest with myself. And being honest with you about those kinds of questions is one of the things that made me want to speak in Chapel in the first place.

But there are many more things I have to address today, so don't stop reading yet. There's the matter of my 17th birthday. I told multiple people that I wanted to have my locker decorated because it had never been done before, but I never expected that you all would be the ones to do it. Whether I heard about the details from you or anyone else, I did find out most of the details. Like the fact that you had RP distract me in the morning (even though I was waiting out front on purpose). Or that you had to have Mrs. I find out what locker was mine. And while y'all maybe aren't as sneaky as you thought, I didn't know it was you until later. And it meant a lot to me that someone would do that for me. But when I found out it was you guys, I nearly cried. It meant the world to me. It was honestly, one hundred percent, without a doubt, the best gift I received that year. I even still have the ribbon to put in a scrap book.

Again, y'all think you're so stealthy. I know about the big brother routine with NH at your church. I may not know the specific details, but I do know about it. And I appreciate it. Because I know that the brothers thing isn't one-sided.

There were lots of time that I'll admit, I didn't feel like I belonged in the group. But you always found a way to make me feel I was meant to be there again. Again and again you included me and I knew you cared.

And there was that time we went bowling recently. I found myself smiling the whole day. Not because I was winning (because I wasn't at all), in fact I could have been the lowest scoring person that day. It didn't matter. The reason? Because you were all there. Every single one of you made it for one last hoorah.

There was the Hobbit, which is in my top ten memories by the way, when four of us went to Denny's afterwards. Videogames at four in the morning. The Habbit for Wednesday lunch. Every In-N-Out trip. Star Trek. Spirit week. Tech. The Woodleaf kitchen. All of it. You are in every one of my top ten memories. For good reason too.

When I joined you, I was broken and didn't feel like I had a purpose in life. You changed that. And to be honest, with you going away to college, I don't know that I feel whole anymore. But because of your friendship, I know I'm strong enough to stand tall. I know I'll recover. Because no matter how much things may change, as long as I have you as friends and brothers, I know I'll be okay. I know you will be there for me. And that means everything to me.

So I want to wish you good luck on your endeavors. Good luck in college. In life. In everything. I know I will see you again, so this isn't a goodbye. It's "Until later". You will always be in my heart, in my thoughts, and in my prayers.

With so much love and compassion,
PolarBearMoose <3

September 11th

Today, I wanted to talk about something a little bigger than just my life. Today is September 11th. It was 12 years ago today that the plane crash changed the world and all life as we knew it ended. Because after that day, life changed for better or for worse. I still remember the day and events that followed. Of course, I was just about to turn 6, so I didn't pay much attention to many of the things going on in the world, but I think I still knew a little bit of what was happening.

I remember I was excited. It was the day before my birthday and it's all I wanted to talk about. My friend from preschool, Meghan, was in my class and I couldn't wait to play with her. We were living in the mobile home park in one of the permanent houses. We had moved over the summer and I had my own room. I had shared a room with my mom before, so I was excited to have my own space. It was a normal day for me. My mom turned on the news and I remember watching it with her and seeing the planes crash, but I remember not really feeling any fear or anxiety. I didn't really know it was happening until it was explained later. We made it to school and Meghan was there with her mom, but Meghan ended up going home. I remember being both jealous and sad. Meghan was one of my only friends and I wanted to play with her. But I was jealous because I was the kid that pretended to be sick just to stay home with my mom. I wanted to have that day with my mom. I don't remember the rest of that day, but that morning is fresh in my mind. I remember in the next week or so we started singing songs in the classroom. I remember even though it was a public school, we sang "God Bless the USA" a lot after that in our first grade class.

It's strange to think about where we were when such major things happen. And it's the kind of thing that isn't easily forgotten. I learned much later that my mom almost did pull me out of school that day. She sat at work and the employees didn't do anything. She said she wished she had stayed home with me.

I think the strangest part for me to remember is not the surrealism of it all, but the fact that it happened in my lifetime. We read in history books about all sorts of different things and maybe it's just me, but I always wonder what it would be live then. But this is something that I was alive for.

I'm curious to know, do you remember where you were? What you felt?

Please keep the families of those who died in your hearts today in honor of their memories.

With love,
PolarBearMoose <3

2nd Wave

So, according to some of my college bound friends, you are a first waver if you left a certain week in August and a second waver is you leave (or start school) in September. It's caught on for most people, but I just can't do it. All I can think about is the Xanth series by Piers Anthony where the second wave is an army of savages that pillages the magical land of Xanth. Yeah. Excuse me while I go be a nerd in my own little corner. Btw, major bonus points to anyone who actually understands what on earth I'm talking about.

On a different note, I went to see The Mortal Instruments with AC a couple days ago and I did post that night, but not about the movie. Having not read the books, I'll admit, I was super confused. But I liked it. Although, I was also extremely happy to see Robert Sheehan from Misfits (which honestly, I don't recommend. It's highly inappropriate, so if you do decide to see it, you were warned). But Robert's character Nathan is one of my favorites from the show, so I was super excited when I realized who it was. Also, for those warehouse fans out there, Mrs. Fredericks was in it!! Which was also exciting to see. So, yeah, I was happy to recognize some folks. Otherwise, I was just creeped out.

And on an entirely different note from that! Yesterday was my boyfriend's birthday as well as my friend RP. For NH, I went with his family to this restaurant called igatti which is an Italian place, but they serve gluten free food, which is why we went. We had a wonderful meal celebrating NH, but his family surprised me by telling the waiting staff that they were celebrating my birthday too since mine is next week and they would be out of town on my birthday. It was really sweet.

Okay, enough tangents.

With that I bid you adieu!

Sincerely,
PolarBearMoose <3