"Somewhere" by Tom Waits

I just really like this.

Spring 2012 schedule:

So you can stalk me, obviously.

Psychology of Gender: MWF 10:00 - 10:50
Intro to Women's Studies: MWF 1:00 - 1:50
Human Sexuality: TR 10:00 - 11:20
Make-Up: TR 1:00 - 2:50
Computers: Online
University 1010: Online

Had to drop yoga :( But I'll make room in the fall. It's so hard to get motivated to be active in the "spring" anyway when it's snowing until April.

SOOO EXCITED! I should probably try to enjoy my three weeks off... but I'm just excited. It's the first time I've had a full schedule since spring 2010. I enjoyed my two years off, but I've finally, finally (can't stress this enough) FINALLY found my passion, and I'm going full-speed ahead.

Currently on repeat.

LOOOOOOOVED tonight's Glee episode! Here's why!

1. Mostly, Mike and Tina. Tonight I realized that every time Tina opens her mouth, I just have to smile. Her ambition is almost more inspiring than Rachel's, because Rachel is obviously going to make it in performing, but for Tina it's not so absolute. And at the part where she tells Mike's dad how she doesn't care about that very fact, that it's not going to stop her from chasing her dream, I just fell in love with her character I think for the very first time. Maybe because it's just so relatable to me right now.. there were tears. I hope we get to see even more into Tina's story. (Maybe in place of Santana's ahem.)

2. NEW DIRECTIONS WON!!! I feel like a lot was resolved in this episode. Quinn kinda sorta restored her sanity (I'm still not convinced), and the war of the glee clubs came to an end. The separation just did not sit well with me. And apparently (hopefully) the whole Puck/Shelby Corcoran thing has come to an end too. It was an inevitable plot line to pursue, but I'm honestly glad it's over and dealt with and we can move on. I don't really see how Shelby fits in at McKinley now anymore though, since Quinn's not trying to steal her child, she's not with Puck, she has no chance with Will, and her glee club just abandoned her. Hm.

3. Oh and Kurt telling off Sebastian. "Hah you smell like Craigslist." Hahah I just loved it! I would just love a big epic triangle and Kurt fighting for his man. There needs to be a little drama between Kurt and Blaine. NOT A BREAK-UP, but drama. If there's a break-up, I'm going to pull a Finchel-break-up-reaction. (Youtube it.)

4. Rachel's dress. Need I say more.



Next week is Christmas episode! YES! I've been utilizing every ounce of my self-control to not listen to the Christmas songs on youtube. I just love Christmas!

Other than the wonderfulness of Glee day, today I just worked and have actually gotten some studying done. Tomorrow is my last day of actual class! And then my final is Monday. And then my last day of work is Tuesday. And then I'm moving next Friday. Woah.



You know that some legit studying is going down if my hair's in a ponytail. Woah.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 3: Favorite Overall Character

3. Favorite Overall Character:

Severus Snape

I KNOW, I'M SO LAME. But no. He's really been my favorite character probably since book 5 or so. Ever since we learned that tiny sliver of his past, I've been hooked on him, and I knew there had to be more to him. So whenever he appeared on the page, no joke, my heart lept every time. I was DYING for something. And we sure as hell got something.

I will go as far as to say that Severus Snape is my favorite character ever, in all of literature. The complexity alone! The uncertainty between good or evil. I'm not going to say for certain because I obviously don't know for certain, but I highly doubt that many writers have pulled off what Jo pulled off in keeping all of us completely unaware of whether Snape was good or evil until the very last second, literally. Some people obviously said they thought Snape was good, but they didn't really know why. And then Snape killed Dumbledore and those same people were all shaken up in their convictions, left in, once again, completely uncertainty. JK Rowling is just amazing!

Here's how much I love Severus Snape. I'm getting two tattoos for my love of Harry Potter: the first one I'm getting will say "Until the very end." The other is going to say "Always."

I have a new goal.

I KNOW I said I wasn't going to post any outfit pictures, but come on how cute is this jacket?1 I just love it too much! :) I really needed a lighter jacket; all I currently have are heavier winter coats. It's also the first thing I've found at H&M that I really loved... the new store did not meet my expectations.

Anyway. I was thinking. One way that I could put my women's rights stamp on the world is through one of the things I love more than anything - theater. It certainly could use some help in that area, especially musical theater. I was thinking about something my brother said about his acting class; he was doing a group project and a lot of the girls in his group wanted to do male parts. And he started to say that maybe girls are just jealous of the male roles because they're just simply better roles - more interesting, funnier, just more fun to play. Is this true? Are male roles simply better when it comes to musicals? It's not that women are under-represented, but I do see how women are simply just playing "the woman" in a lot of musicals.

The Wizard of Oz is the first one I'll have a go at - Dorothy, of course, is a female, and of course, the main character. But, she is only one of two females in the whole ensemble of... let me think... about six main characters? The other female being the nasty villain. In a way I like when females are villains but that's pretty complex and way off-topic. So we have the (somewhat) heroic female lead and the female villain. The other four characters I counted were obviously the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow, and then the Wizard. Who can argue that these characters aren't FAR more interesting? Funnier? More fun to play? Well, okay, I forgot one: the Witch of the East. (too lazy to go back and edit...) Obviously the most interesting female character in the story. But still, uber-feminine, beautiful, kind - not really pushing any boundaries in terms of empowered characters.

Anyway that may have been a terrible example but when I'm getting at here is maybe... just maybe I could be a playwright? What? What is this new idea? I know. My number-one hero could be influencing me a bit here - Miss JK Rowling. I'm going to go ahead and say it - I think I'm just as good of a writer as her, as far as writing technique and English mannerisms go. (Her genius characters and plot lines are another story.) And I mean, if she can do it... why not me? Why can't I be the one to write the play acclaimed by feminists around the world?

I know. I'm well aware that I sound like a Disney character sometimes. I tell people on a daily basis that they should follow their dreams, no matter what anyone else says. Why can't I listen to my own advice? Why is this so, so hard for me? I could double-major in theater design and English, but I probably wouldn't have my bachelor's degree until I was 26 or something - ideally when I'd like to have a career and a husband :/ But then I want to maybe just do something practical like nutrition or some kind of bullshit...

Fuck it. Follow your heart, guys. It won't complicate things at all.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 2: Favorite Movie

2. Your Favorite Movie:

Deathly Hallows Part 2

For all the reasons I already stated about why DH is my favorite book, most of the same goes for DH Part 2. The thing I loved the most about the movie was how they translated the intensity and the super-fast pace that was in the book with such brilliance. I was literally on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, the entire time. And as soon as you know it, they're at Hogwarts! And I'm just like "oh god no I'm not ready for this." It's definitely the best "epic movie" out there.

The epilogue was strange for me. I wasn't a big fan of it in the books anyway though. I mean, I liked that we were given SOME kind of idea of where they ended up 19 years later, but I feel like Jo could have just addressed that in an interview or something, rather than end the whole series on kind of an odd note. I did like one thing they did with the film epilogue though - the music. I noticed immediately that it was the same as John Williams' from film one. And that whole encircling of the series was so perfect. Got me real emotional. And the way they focused in on the trios' kids getting on the train and interacting on top of the old school music - to me it gave the message that Hogwarts - and Harry Potter - will live on forever. I do feel like the shot of the trio holding hands amidst the rubble was the perfect ending though. That's the real ending of the story that we were given.

I give you the final trailer of Harry Potter ever.

Harry Potter Challenge Day 1: Favorite Book

currently listening: Silver Soul - Beach House

I've wanted to do one of these Harry Potter challenges for a while. I love these 30-day blog challenges in general anyway. They always keeps me thinking.


1. Your Favorite Book:

Deathly Hallows

Favorite Harry Potter book, favorite book EVER. I feel like as a Harry Potter fan, your favorite book of the seven really HAS to be either the first or the last. It's definitely possible to argue for 2-6, but for me, it seems like the magic really lies within 1 and 7.

I choose 7 because the wrapping-up of EVERYTHING is what made me really fall in love with the series, completely. I was a pretty hardcore Harry Potter fan when I was 10-11 years old, but the magic seemed to die for me until I was about 16 and decided to finish up reading the series. That beautiful ending is what ignited the spark again for me and it hasn't gone out since. It's kind of strange; everyone was so extremely depressed when it ended, and I definitely was as well, but when it ended was actually when it all started for me.

The memories I have of reading those last 100 pages or so is so unforgettable, and no book has ever had such an effect on me, including the first 6 HP books. The Sorcerer's Stone had a similar effect - I'll never forget my third grade teacher, Ms. Hayes, reading it to us after recess every day, and pronouncing everything totally wrong - "Her-mee-own," "Die-ginn Alley." But The Deathly Hallows made me the person I am - it changed my perspective on what makes good literature, good characters, and good people. There's so much to draw from and I really can say it affects my everyday life. Thanks, Jo.

The Victim Card

Who else thinks it's ben played WAY too many times?

Well, WE don't play it. It's purely men playing it for us. And women, they're just stupid enough to buy it.

I'm talking about a MAJOR theme that men write about in popular music today. Especially the male lyricists that girls swoon over. (And female ones too, it pains me to say.) Lyrics that both women and men just simply overlook. I'll start with some lyrics to Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved," which was the glorious spark of inspiration for this spiel.

Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else

Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved

I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

From the opening line - making sure to state that said girl is beautiful as quickly as possible - to the complete and utter arrogance in the last, I hate this song more than ever. (It was once just because of the lead singer guy's annoying voice whose name I really don't even care enough to look up.) What I'm really talking about is victimization, and the idea that all men seem to have that they are our superheroes and that swooping in to save us is ideal to both genders. For guys, its a ginormous stroke to their ego, and for girls, it makes them feel like princesses in a Disney fairytale...or Mary Jane from Spiderman...or something. WAY too many girls nowadays have been put under the impression that being saved is the epitome of romance. (Thanks, Taylor Swift. You really are the death of the 21st century woman.) This victimization, thus objectification (because woman are just being used as simple tools to help prove a man's manliness), is something young women are completely missing. It's men like the vocalist of Maroon 5 that believe women are already victims - victims of sexual assault, victims of the media, even victims of their own bodies in a variety of ways - and think that it's not a big deal to keep perpetuating that idea AND believe that it's their job to save them. My two cents: men are victims in a number of ways as well; they don't get paid paternity leave, they have a high standard of masculinity in American society just as females endure a high standard of femininity; but they don't expect girls to save them. And I sure as hell never will. This is always a good strategy for me when looking at a feminist issue, by the way - just turn it around and ask if it would be right in a man's point of view.

But I just can't understand how this goes right over girls' heads. Have we seriously learnt not to listen to what is being thrown at us? Have we grown into infants, being spoon fed a barrage of harmful information, not really even bothering to question what's in the stuff? I think we did learn it at some point through music - the 90s and early 2000s were an amazing time for female musicians. But today's music somehow reversed it. And that's a whole different topic entirely.

So all the advice I really have is: OPEN YOUR EARS, GIRLS. Objectification and patriarchy isn't going to walk up to you, shake your hand, and introduce itself. (But, you know, on the off-chance that it does, I would probably go for punching it in the face.) It's going to be subtle, and it's going to hide in places that you would least expect it. I've always been a fan of the phrase "save yourself" because really, that's all that any of us is trying to do. Letting someone else do it for you is truly counter-productive.

The Betrayal of the Sorting Hat

I was beyond excited to get Sorted. You. Have. No. Idea. And I had a lot of faith in Jo's Sorting test. I know it would be fun and clever, and it was...to an extent. I always said I would be happy getting Sorted into any house unless it was Ravenclaw. So technically, I should be happy. I should be. Why am I not? Why am I actually sort of totally and completely ticked off?

Well, here's the thing. I think it's totally rigged.

If you aren't on Pottermore yet, or if you just haven't noticed, the number of members in each house are curiously close. Currently as I look at the page, the numbers of students are as follows:

Gryffindor: 90,885
Ravenclaw: 91,272
Hufflepuff: 91,378
Slytherin: 90,391

I refuse to believe that it just played out this way. There's just no way. It's understandable that they would want to keep the numbers even though - solely for the House Points feature. If the number of students in each house were hugely uneven, then the houses with fewer students wouldn't stand a chance at winning the House Cup. But of course this isn't enough to assuage me. I'M A SLYTHERIN. I'm not super-friendly enough for Hufflepuff by any means. I'm not super loyal. I'm ambitious, pretty selfish, and super strange. (And also probably very hard on myself. As a second choice, I'd probably be a Gryffindor.) A better test would have divulged this.

Somewhat moving on... (I don't know when/how I'll get over this...) All of this !!!brand new information on Hufflepuff house!!! is total crap. The description of the common room was really interesting and well-written, but the whole description of the traits of Hufflepuffs in the Welcome Message was just confusing. Basically, Hufflepuffs are: trustworthy, loyal, and protective of friends and family. Quote: "Nobody intimidates us." "We've produced the fewest Dark wizards of any house in the school." These traits totally reek of inconsistency with the Hufflepuff characters we have met in the books. Let's break it down:

Cedric Diggory, probably (sadly) the most prominent Hufflepuff, was a dick. But maybe that's just my opinion. I'm aware that he helped Harry out a few times, but in a rather shady fashion, if you ask me. He was arrogant to almost James Potter status. I truly saw Cedric Diggory as more of a Gryffindor than a Hufflepuff. (He was insanely brave to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. AND he did well in it.) As for the other Hufflepuff kids we met, they were so very undeveloped that it wouldn't even be fair to judge if they actually belonged there or not. On the upside though, if every Hufflepuff were like their Head of House, Professor Sprout, I'd be a very happy Puff.

So this is why I really regret to say that the entire House concept is very, very flawed. You simply can't partition people off like this based on four or five broad personality traits. And not allowing them to interact with other types of personalities is probably unhealthy. It unfortunately kind of reminds me of sororities or fraternities - only hanging around one type of person under the flawed idea that it will help you grow and form relationships. Well, the entire idea of Greek life is a whole 'nother topic entirely, but you can see what I mean. It's not healthy, it's over-competitive and honestly straight up pointless. The students of Hogwarts are separated nearly 24/7. They can only eat with their house, they can only dorm with their house, they can only take classes with their house and maybe one other house at a time. It's no wonder that Harry never made friends with any Hufflepuffs; he didn't see them nearly enough to probably even pick one out of a crowd. (Not minding the inconsistency in the fact that the Welcome Message also states that Puffs get along best with Gryffindors.)

So I'll take this whole Sorting deal as a grain of salt. It's a bitter outcome, but there's far more flaws in Pottermore than just this. It's just becoming even clearer that we Harry Potter fans... we're just never, ever, ever satisfied.

Oh you silly, stupid pastime of mine.

Jamie. 20. Design major. Intro time.

Like it will forever state in my about me <- (serving as more of a reminder to me, than as information to you) this is an opinion/article-driven blog. It is not a lifestyle/fashion/diary-like blog. Little tidbits of my personal life WILL jump out, because they are usually what inspire my ideas of what to blog about. But mainly you can expect comments largely on the media, feminism, analyzations of the life of a college student, Harry Potter, and whatever else I deem interesting enough to spend my precious time writing about. Some posts may even be purely "philosophical" and for those, I sincerely apologize.

God I really shouldn't have chosen this picture to start off with. But I took it today, and I like posting pictures from the same day that I'm blogging. But still...liquor bar and stuffed animals in the background? Yes. I'm weird. Here we go.