I had an awesome day yesterday.

Some friends and I caught the train into Chicago yesterday to visit the Art Institute and ChinaTown. I'm not huge into visual art (I really don't get almost any of it, old and new alike), but it did afford me an opportunity to check out the Indian/Southeast Asian exhibit, which is always my favorite. When I was little, I had a fascination with Asian culture that puts my current xenophilia in a rather large shadow. My mom took me to the Art Institute and I spent HOURS in the Indian/Southeast Asian exhibit. I wasn't interested in the art itself quite so much as the information that accompanied it. Little historical details and distinctions between Thai Buddhism and Indian Buddhism, explainations of the incarnations of Vishnu. I love that stuff.

Chinatown, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. Nothing but restaraunts and cheap gift stores. And Chinese porn. I guess I don't really know what I expected. Whatev.

Then we chilled/heated ourselved by the fire at "Her Crazy Brain"'s house. Her mom made me vegan chili, and I repeatedly got my ass kicked when I attemped to wrestle the Jew.

Today promises to be just as wonderful.

God, I love spring break.

posted at 11:47 AM by Alison

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Alright, members of my generation. You got me. I finally watched Napoleon Dynamite.

War_Ship_Jesus and I were bumming around the 'burbs last night and found our way to Toby's (the best video place in the world) Video, and we settled upon Napoleon Dynamite. It was okay. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more if I hadn't already heard all of the jokes a thousand times from the dumbasses in Spanish 3. But even taken objectively, it was a little overdone. The humor was so odd that I felt it needed a slightly lighter touch. It was just a little bit on the "MadTV" side of things. But it definitely had its moments.

I would like to change the subject and briefly address my dogs, if they are reading.

Look, guys. You're one and a half years old now. That's fourteen in human years. When I was your age, I was starting to think a little more seriously about what I wanted to do with my life. I was beginning to read up on colleges. I was preparing for my impending adulthood. I certainly was not peeing on my grandmother's rug. I think it's about time you grow up and realize that you pee in the litterbox, not on the floor. And not on my clothes.

posted at 12:50 PM by Alison

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Easter is a silly holiday.

Its pagan roots are so apparent that they've pretty much taken over the whole bloody celebration. Eggs. Rabbits. THE NAME OF THE HOLIDAY. Not to mention those heathen jelly beans.

I've never understood the concept of Easter. I think I was about ten or eleven before I even realized that Easter had anything to do with Jesus being resurrected. And when my mom finally explained the crucifixion and resurrection to me, I was completely incredulous. Why make such a big deal out of how Jesus suffered for us? He's GOD. I'm pretty sure mere physical pain can't phase him all that much. And the whole crucifixion thing was part of God's plan, right? If God INTENDED for Christ to be crucified so that we could all be absolved of our sins, why should we have any animosity for those who performed to crucifixion? Why is Judas such a bad guy, if he was just performing God's will? And if God so loved us that he wanted us to have eternal life, why bother with the ritual sacrifice of his only son? Why not just GIVE us eternal life? I mean, he is GOD. He has the power to forgo the formalities.

So I spent my Easter NOT going to church, gorging myself on my grandmother's baked sweet potatoes, and trying on my mom's old prom dresses. My mom weighed about 95lbs when she was my age, so I didn't expect any of them to actually fit, but we did find one that could be altered some. There's the possibility that I could wear a dress circa 1967 to my senior prom. Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

Ah, vanity.

posted at 7:37 PM by Alison

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In keeping with my vow to no longer buy new clothing, I had plans to buy a used prom dress. Emily and I are going tomorrow to search through every thrift store in the Chicagoland area for one or two suitable dresses (slash just buy cool stuff for not prom), but I'm already doubting how successful we'll be. I REALLY don't want to have to spend more than forty bucks on a dress. Any suggestions?

My euphonium (Astrid) just got her first bath. If I had batteries for my camera, I would have taken pictures and then embarassed her in front of her future boyfriends.

posted at 10:05 PM by Alison

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I knew I would think of something to write.

I totally got my acceptance letter from the U of I School of Music on Saturday, but I'm not going to enroll until they offer me some cashola. I'm playing hard to get.

On Saturday evening, I and some 40-odd of my closest friends were sitting in the bleachers of Herscher High School waiting for the results of the show choir competition, listening to loud obnoxious pop music and watching our peers grind against each other, when suddenly the music STOPPED and a voice declared "YOUR Fighting Illini are winnine whatever to whatever." MY Fighting Illini. They're always referred to that way. YOUR Fighting Illini. On all the MI CDs I have, they have the announcer dude saying, "and here come YOUR Marching Illini!" and then they play and it's all cool. I'm torn between thinking it's wierd and thinking it's cute. I'll soon think it's cute, I imagine.

I'm so there. I'm so there already. I've been in show choir for four years, so wouldn't it follow that I would be sad at seeing it end? Hell no. I'm just glad it's over. I'm that much closer to college choir.

I am, I suppose, a little sad. I'll miss high school as a concept. And I'll miss the people whom I'll probably lose touch with. I watched The Royal Tenenbaums this afternoon with a couple of my close, still-in-high-school friends, and I cried. I know. Wierd movie to get weepy over. But it was just so appropriate. It so typifies the dry, precious humor of my compatriates. The grayness of the sounds. The cold wind on Wolf Road. I'll miss it.

But it will be good. Real good.

posted at 11:01 PM by Alison

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The Fencepost is back with a vengence!

I've been a busy little beaver. I just did six concerts in five consecutive days. I've had at least one concert a week for the past three weeks. I hope you understand.

But that's all done and over with, now. Friday was the last vocal jazz performance for a while, Saturday was the final show choir competition as well as the final jazz band performance, and Sunday was the end of my Elgin Symphony experience. Everything pretty much ends for the musical (which I refuse to be a part of), so I have pretty much nothing to do for the next month and a half. PLUS Friday begins my Spring Break, so I'll be able to blog all day, everyday.

More updates forthcoming! Maybe even later tonight! Stay tuned!

posted at 9:27 PM by Alison

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