Some Tips

Clara Richter's tips on how to overcome boredom:


1.  Online Shop - Avoid online shopping unless you have money to actually make purchases.  The problem with not having money is that in your hunt you may find something that you absolutely love, but cannot afford.  When this happens depression usually sets in fairly quickly.  You bookmark the page and constantly open it to see if your beloved item (let's say it's a pair of moon-boots) is still there.  You stare at them and heave heavy sighs and eventually your family starts to worry about your well being.  Eventually your want for the moon-boots becomes too strong and your thoughts are consumed with money making schemes and visions of dancing boots.  Hence, be very careful when online shopping. 


2.  Build Something - If you are bored it never hurts to build something.  The flimsiest (but easiest) structure you can build is a house of cards.  These are good time wasters because it takes a lot of time to make sure that they are structurally sound.  If your dad likes to woodwork he probably has scraps lying around.  These are always good for tower building, which can be very nostalgic, since many of us employed wood blocks as a major form of entertainment in our younger years.  If you are really crafty you can build a structure out of sticks, leaves and bark, like the people at Meijer Gardens did:

3.  Read a Book - Reading a good book is always a quality way to spend your time. I recommend The Book Thief, The Glass Castle, and The Catcher in the Rye. Re-reading any of the Harry Potter books is also a good way to go.  And if you want to spend an entire afternoon reading then I recommend The Hunger Games.  I could not put it down. If you're really at a loss for what to read it never hurts to pull your old picture books off the shelf and take a walk down memory lane.  I do it all the time. 

4.  Do Chores - Moms eat this one up, but I avoid it at all costs.

5.  Play a Game - If you are alone one the of the only options for you is Solitaire which is almost always guaranteed to make you feel friendless and lonely.  I find Solitaire to be rather worthless because it is the easiest game at which to cheat.  You can simply switch the cards around a little and voila! you're a winner.  But then you have to live with yourself knowing that you cheated and I don't know if you want that.  If you and a friend are bored there are multiple two person games that can be played.  Cribbage is one of my personal favorites, but there are other alternatives.  You could play Scrabble, which can be fun, but frustrating, Rummy, Yatzee, or Sequence.  If you have a group of three or more people who are bored I recommend Risk (The Game of World Domination), Settlers of Cataan, Clue, Apples to Apples, or Pictionary.  

6.  Cook Something - Cooking something can go either way.  While the act of cooking the dish can be a lot of fun, if you are like me and eat when you get bored, the glory is short lived. 

7.  Outdoor Activities - If the weather is good (which sadly isn't the case today) one of the best things you can do to cure your boredom is to go outside and make the most of the day.  I like to take my dog for hikes at the local state and county parks, but that's only one option.  You can get friends together for a game of pick of soccer, lacrosse, or perhaps croquet (if you're feeling sophisticated).  Those of us who live in West Michigan are fortunate enough to have many beautiful beaches to go play on. Make use of them.  I like to kayak, although I usually have to do this with another person in case there is an emergency.  

8.  Nap - I don't really think that this needs an explanation, although it does come with a warning.  Napping can only cure your boredom for a limited amount of time.  When you wake up, if you don't have something to do, there is always the risk that you will be just as bored as you were before you fell asleep.  Just be careful. 

9.  Arts and Crafts - That's right.  Break out the crazy glue and the pipe cleaners.  Arts and crafts aren't always that exciting, but if you have an idea for something you want to do they can be a lot of fun! You run into trouble when you can't think of anything to art or craft.  This can be frustrating and often times makes your boredom worsen.  Then, when you think you have a good idea it doesn't always turn out which makes the entire endeavor seem like a waste of time.  The key is to focus on the fact that no matter how terrible whatever you make turns out for a while your boredom was alleviated.

10.  Go For a Drive - I used to like to go for a drive when I was bored.  You can't rely on this one all the time, though, because driving uses gas and gas is expensive. 

11.  Relax - In the summertime when I get bored I like to lay in my backyard in the sun.  It's not that exciting, but it is relaxing.  When the weather isn't so wonderful it's always nice to curl up in your favorite chair with a hot beverage.  Boredom stems from restlessness.  If you can be at ease it's easier to not be bored (or at least not focus on your boredom). 

Things NOT to do when you're bored:

The most important thing to remember to NOT do when you're bored is mention to your parents (especially your mother) that you are bored.  This usually results in the assignment of chores and that's not something that we generally want. 

And that's how Clara C's it!

A Serious Case of the Boredoms

Alright everyone.  Now that the chaos of Christmas has ebbed it's time to get back to serious blogging.  


I would tell you all about my Christmas and all the festivities therein, but I think that it will suffice to say that it was pleasant (as usual) the aunts got tipsy (as usual) and Santa brought me everything I asked for with the exception of a pony (as usual).

Emma wasn't here, but we still managed to get a picture of the whole fan-damily.


Here are my thoughts on Christmas break:  Make it shorter.  Today, December twenty eighth in the two thousand and tenth year of our Lord may have been the most boring day of my life.  I don't know how you handle boredom, but I handle it by eating.  When I am bored I always crave a certain thing (today it was rice...?) and I eat other foods in substitute of that food because I think that maybe they will satisfy my craving, which they never do, so I keep eating and eating and somehow I manage to never get full.  I just eat.  Sadly, this is only a preview of what the next three weeks will be like unless I manage to keep myself occupied.


I'm currently working my way through the Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis.  These books were my 'go to' literature when I was a young child.  I've read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at least ten times, maybe more.  There's something extremely timeless about them and I find Lewis' dry sense of humor very amusing. 


I'm slowly adding to my collection of anthologies.  Today I purchased the Norton Critical Edition of "The Revival of Eighteen Century Literature" or something like that.  It sounds thrilling.  Maybe not, but it's bound to have something good in it.  


I have an arts and crafts date with a good friend to attend to.  I'll catch you on the flip-side, dear reader.


And that's how Clara C's it!

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."


Indeed it does Mr. Grinch, indeed it does. 


Merry Christmas everyone!   

Finals Week: Day 5

I got this one in just in the nick of time.  Eight more minutes and finals week would be completely over.  


Well, I'm safe and sound at home.  I'm currently in my bed preparing myself for a fifteen hour snooze.  It's going to be amazing.  I've gotten...well, I don't know exactly how many hours of sleep I've gotten in the past week, but it hasn't been enough.  I haven't been able to nap either!  What a shame.  Oh well, I have a month to make up for it.  


A month!  I get a whole month off of school.  Although I am happy to be home for that long I think I will be bored after about three weeks, maybe even two.  Also, as wonderful as it is to see my friends from home I will miss my friends from school.  I've grown rather fond of them.  Perhaps I will have to make a trip to Pittsburgh with a pit stop in Toledo and one in Cleveland.  Something tells me the parents wouldn't go for that...


Jenny and I had the most wholesome night ever!  We went to the store and bought candy and graham crackers and frosting and made "gingerbread" houses.  Mine looked like a Buddhist temple...Merry Christmas?  We watched It's a Wonderful Life while making the gingerbread (graham cracker) houses and then we had hot cocoa.  I don't think it gets much more Christmas-y than that.  Perhaps we could have decorated a Christmas tree or something, but I think that's about it.  


It's a Wonderful Life is the only movie that makes me cry out of sheer joy.  I normally don't cry in movies anyway.  Harry Potter is the only other one that I remember crying during and I cried because I was sad.  If you haven't seen It's a Wonderful Life you must.  The message is timeless.  Jimmy Stewart is amazing.  It makes you think. I love it. I could sing its praises forever. 


"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"


And that's how Clara C's it!

Finals Week: Day 4

I AM DONE WITH MY LEGITIMATE EXAMS!!!  All I have left is FYS and that doesn't require any studying.  All I have to do is show up and I get a grade.  Then I'm going home...I feel like I've over-packed.  


When I get home I am going to sleep for 15 hours. 

Finals Week: Day 3

I had trouble sleeping last night because I kept having anxiety dreams about my art history exam.  


Who built the Houses of Parliament?  Who built the Schroeder house?  Who built the Seagram Building?  Oh gosh.  I can't sleep. 


On the plus side I downloaded the font that they use on the cover of the Harry Potter books. 

Finals Week: Day 2

I hope you're all having a wonderful Tuesday.   As for me, I'll sleep when I'm dead. 

Finals Week: Day 1

I'm still fairly optimistic.  I only have one final tomorrow and it is looking like it is going to be my easiest one, but I might be jinxing myself there.


Apparently I look tired...and I am tired.  Clara, meet your new best friend, Coffee. 

Christmastime Snowiness!

Cleveland got absolutely pounded with snow the past couple days.  We now have a good four or five inches and it is wonderful!  Yesterday evening we went out and played in it.  Due to the fact that I had homework it probably wasn't the best decision I've ever made, but it was pretty worth it.  Look how happy I am:

Laura loves the snow too!  Sometimes I'm not sure if she quite knows what to do with it because she is from Texas and snow is very rare in those southern parts.  She made her first snow angel EVER yesterday and we documented that as well:

For her first snow angel, I have to say she did a pretty good job.  She got cold before the rest of us and had to go inside.  Justin, Zack and I managed to stay out for about an hour and a half.  Here we are after our victorious return:

I was the least snowy so I think that means I win.  

As I was sitting at my computer, minding my own business, blogging my little heart out, I heard a strange noise coming from outside.  In the reflection on one of my picture frames I saw some movement and I turned around just in time to see and avalanche of snow come tumbling off of the roof.  That is something that you have to watch out for while strolling around buildings.  I can't imagine walking to class and getting buried in an avalanche of falling snow.  I guess it would be a good excuse not to go to class.  "Um, professor, I got completely annihilated by an avalanche and that's why I wasn't in class today."  If the snow doesn't get you the icicles lie in wait to take you down.  They have to  put up signs to make sure that kids don't go walking under the eves and get themselves killed.  

Tomorrow I am getting up early and going to Westside Market with John and Vince.  I am very excited.  I have to compare it with Eastern Market in Washington D.C., although I have a feeling that it doesn't measure up.  I'm keeping my mind open though because I've heard that there is a very large candy store.  I do love candy.  

One week until I am done with my first semester of college!  It's been...an interesting trip to say the least.  I've made friends, made enemies (just kidding), learned a lot, forgotten a lot, and become as nocturnal as an owl.  I've picked apples, had snowball fights, fed the homeless, watched countless hours of jeopardy, made pie, made soup, gone to Whole Foods for the first time in my life, experienced the largest grilled cheese sandwich ever, and discovered that I have the power of the triangle face.  I've learned that you can pass a class without reading any of the required material, and I've also learned that you can fail a class even though you read all of the required material.  Despite all this I still can't quite fathom the fact that I'm in college. It's like it hasn't quite hit yet that I'm going to be doing this for the next three and a half years of my life, most likely more. 

I won't be blogging during finals week.  If I find time I'll give small little updates but if not I'll see you on the the other side. 

And that's how Clara C's it.  

Christmas Tunes

I don't generally buy Christmas music on iTunes because I feel like the money isn't well spent because you only listen to the songs for about a month, however, Coldplay's "Christmas Lights" was worth a dollar and twenty-nine cents.  Give it a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1rYmzQ8C9Q

Snow Days?

I have an embarrassing story to share with everyone.  Hopefully it provides a few laughs.  


On Friday I went to the Cheesecake Factory with some friends.  My friend Sean ordered a Shirley Temple (Kiddie Cocktail).  For those of you who don't know a Shirley Temple consists of Sprite and grenadine and is popular amount the youths.  Generally there are maraschino cherries in the drink for garnish as was the case with Sean's cocktail.  He didn't want the cherries and I offered to take them off his hands.  They were buried under all the ice in the drink, but I managed to successfully maneuver the first cherry out from under its layer of frozen liquid.  The second cherry posed more of a problem and as I was trying to coax it out from under the ice without making a mess and muttering to myself "I might have to stab it this time", I hear a voice behind me say, "Would you like another Shirley Temple?".  Apparently the waiter had been standing behind me staring at me for about thirty seconds and no one had said anything.  He judged me pretty hard.  Luckily I got a plate a maraschino cherries out of the ordeal, so I guess everything worked out despite my embarrassment.  


Apparently Cleveland is supposed to get a lot of snow this week.  I don't really have a problem with that as long as I don't have to trudge too far in it.  The prospect of a lot of snow is no longer exciting or disappointing.  When I was in high school and the weather report called for a lot of snow we would all freak out in hopes of a snow day, but it isn't often that you have a snow day in college.  This lack of excitement doesn't mean that I hate the snow.  I love the snow.  I think it is absolutely beautiful and I would rather have a lovely blanket of snow than bare trees and bare ground.  


I have one week until finals.  This is going to be interesting.  This afternoon alone is going to be particularly hellish.  I have to pick my poison:  art history essays or communication research literature review.  Both are certain to be equally horrid.  Everyone is approaching finals differently.  Some people don't mind finals week because you have one or two tests a day and then that's that, you can study for the rest of the afternoon.  Others hate finals week because of all the stress.  I don't really know how to approach it.  I never really get stressed out over tests, but perhaps I should be stressing out a little more so as not to be completely unmotivated.  I would appreciate any sage advice.


I really like the band Noah and the Whale.  Give them a listen:
noahandthewhale.com

I mentioned in my last post that I was reading the book The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson and I've realized that I can't read that book when other people are present because periodically (and by periodically I mean about every other page) I start laughing hysterically and can't stop.  When there are other people around they ask me what I am laughing at and I tell them 'my book' and then read them the part that I found so hilarious (this often doesn't go very well because as I'm reading it aloud I fall into fits of giggles).  The problem is that the listener never happens to find the passage as funny as I found it and then I just feel like a fool.  A fool with an odd sense of humor.  


And that's how Clara C's it!

The Pretzel Eaters

Today is December 1st.  And it is snowing.  I love the snow.  We got snow in November, but that didn't seem legitimate because we all knew that it would melt within less than a week.  Now we have snow that might actually have a chance of sticking around.  Yesterday it rained and the weather was disgusting but sometime in the night it got cold and that rain turned to snow and I am very thankful for that.  


I really like pretzels.  It's probably because I'm German, or maybe just because they are delicious.  I was eating pretzels the other day (Snyder's of Hanover Thin, they're my favorite) and while I was eating them I was reading the bag.  Apparently there is something called the "Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel Eater's Club"  and I'm considering joining.  I wonder if they give you free pretzels?  It's at least something worth checking out.  


I dropped French.  My grade was sub-par and I couldn't stand it anymore, so I dropped that class like it was hot.  Now that I don't have French I feel like I have a lot more free-time and so I've been reading a lot more.  I thought that perhaps I would bring all of those books back to school with me and I would just watch them gather dust on my bookshelf and every once in a great while I would crack one open, maybe on the weekends, but that hasn't been the case.  So far I've finished A Year in Provence, by Peter Mayle and I've started on The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson. It feels good to be able to read for pleasure again.  It's something that I really missed.  

I read because people write beautiful things.

And that's how Clara C's it! 

Picture Posting...Finally

It's taken me this long to learn how to post pictures.  That's really rather sad.  All I had to do was click on the help tab and then type in 'posting pictures' and voila, I would have had pictures.  If only I had figured out how to do this two months ago.  Oh well, such is life.  

That is a photograph of my dog and I at the beach over break.  Zoe loves to go to the beach.  She will run in the water and start lapping it up and then a wave will hit her in the face and she will run onto dry land only to go back and repeat this little routine over and over.  I love the beach too, but not when the temperature is sub-zero.  


Sorry this post is sort of short.  It was really more an an experiment in picture posting, plus I have to go to art history.   


And that's how Clara C's it. 

Welcome Home. Happy Thanksgiving.

This is my first blog post from home!  That's right, I'M HOME!  Sound the alarms, ring out the bells, sing out the songs of joy!  It is very bizarre to be home.  Things haven't changed a bit.  I mean, some people down the street cut a tree down and one of the houses in the village has been painted black (black? who knows), but other than that it is wonderful, simply wonderful!  It's perfect.  Zoe was happy to see me.  And she remembered me.  It was wonderful.  


I went to see Harry Potter with best friend Jenny and the gang.  Jenny burst in the door and picked me up when she saw me.  The family laughed and said that they weren't even that excited to see me.  Then we went to see Harry Potter and I only cried a little bit this time.  It was a wonderful way to spend my Tuesday night.  


Then on Wednesday I got up and went to breakfast with the one and only Jeffery Grant Baker and Miss Jenny Kalejs.  I don't eat breakfast when I am at school so it was very nice to sit down and eat my huevos rancheros and drink my coffee and relax.  The only not nice thing is that I had to pay for Jenny's breakfast.  I mean really.  Who is the poor college student in this relationship?  Not Jenny.  Later in the afternoon I got a haircut.  I love getting my haircut.  Sometimes I have to fight not to fall asleep while they are washing my hair.  I know that sounds weird, but I don't care.  It feels nice to have someone massaging my scalp.  Plus I was tired.  But I shouldn't have to defend myself.  Wednesday was also Emma's birthday so that was very exciting. Her birthday present was a plane ticket home to see her family and we were happy to be together.  I've missed my big sister.  That's not to say I haven't missed Hannah, but I see Hannah a lot more than I see Emma.  Plus Emma can't come home for Christmas because she has to work.  But the way I see it is that it's a sacrifice that has to be made when you decide you want to be a nurse.  Still, we will miss her. 


I played two games of cribbage this weekend.  Whenever I play cribbage I feel like a little old lady.  It's a fun game though.  I played once with my mother and once with my father. The object of the game is to get points by having pairs of cards or cards that add up to fifteen or flushes or runs of three or four and so on.  You have this funny little peg board that you use for scoring except my problem is sometimes i can't remember if I'm going backwards or forwards and so I deduct points when they should have been added.  I think that's why my dad creamed me.  That or I suck at cribbage, which might actually be the case.  It's because I can't add.  I thought that nine and seven added up to fifteen. My lack of math skills really can be a curse.  


I had to bring an extra duffle back to school with me because I brought back so many books.  I love to read.  I've loved to read since I was a very small child.  I remember I was four (maybe five) and I was laying on my living room floor looking at the pictures in a book and all of a sudden I realized that I knew what the words meant.  My favorite book when I was small was called "Tacky the Penguin".  It was about a penguin that managed to save the other penguins because he was so bad mannered and he was terrible and singing and did cannonballs and wore terrible Hawaiian shirts.  I brought six books back with me.  I wanted to bring more, but they wouldn't fit in my backpack.  My mom doesn't think that I need so many books at school, but I like to have them.  Books are like my security blanket.  


Thanksgiving was wonderful, as anticipated.  I ate until I could eat no more, then I waited an hour and ate some more.  It was fantastic.  I love Thanksgiving.  I think that it's a great holiday, not only because of the food, but because at Thanksgiving it isn't about anything more than being with people you love and giving thanks for what you have.  Christmas isn't supposed to be about presents, but for a lot of people it is, and that takes away from the value of Christmas.  At Thanksgiving there is no material connection and therefore we aren't blocked from seeing what the holiday is really about.  Unless of course you're a glutton, then it's a different case. 


HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!


And that's how Clara C's it!

That's Cold Bro

I saw Harry Potter last night and it absolutely BLEW MY MIND!!!  I loved it.  I laughed, I cried, I clenched my fists in rage.  I don't want to give anything away to those of you who haven't seen it yet, although if you've read the book you should know what happens, however, I don't want to give any of the awesomeness away either.  If you haven't seen it I highly recommend getting yourself to the nearest theatre and indulging in this two and a half hour long masterpiece.  


My camera is broken and I am very unhappy about it.  It's two years old, so I mean, I guess for technology it's pretty old, but I take really good care of it so it shouldn't be pooping out on me.  The frustrating thing is that I don't really know what is wrong with it because one weekend it was working just fine and then I put it in my drawer at some point during the week, got it back out the next weekend and when I went to turn it on it said that there was a 'lens error'.  In the words of Laura, the room-mate, "drats". 


The weather is getting colder and you know what that means.  Okay, maybe you don't know what that means.  Colder weather means that it is easier to spot the bros because bros are too cool for coats and sometimes even too cool for long sleeves.  I see them walking around in t-shirts and shorts and tank tops with their silly hats and their silly shorts and I just chuckle to myself.  I mean, I know that it is a priority that they look cool, but I would rather look slightly un-bro like in order to save my health.  


I'm going on the March for Life in January and I am very very very excited.  Not only do I get to go to D.C. with my friends and march around in front of the White House, but I also get to see my sister!  Apparently we have a day to just wander around in D.C. and so I am going to spend some quality time with Emma.


I get to go home in four days!  I cannot wait to see my family and my friends.  Plus, I love the holidays.  I can't wait to be surrounded by everyone that I love.  Not that I don't love my friends here, but I just want to go home.  I need to sleep in my own bed and shower in my own shower and see my dog.  I had a dream the other night that my dog forgot who I was and I woke up very sad.  I didn't like it at all.  Not one bit.  


And that's how Clara C's it!

HP7

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS:  PART ONE


"Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
The Dumble


And that's how Clara C's it!

I Rule the World...Sort Of.

I'm terribly sorry that I've been neglecting the blog so much, but I've been extremely busy.  Those of you who are in college or have been in college will understand where I am coming from.  Legitimate free-time is hard to come by these days.  Thank goodness I only have a week and two days until Thanksgiving break.  I need a rest from work, plus I cannot wait to see my family!


Taine and I are trying to plan our spring break.  We really want to go to Montreal, but I don't know if that's possible.  You see, I have no money and I still have to pay for next semester's books which aren't going to be cheap (I guess that's what happens when you decided that you can handle eighteen credit hours). You can't take the Amtrak to Montreal so that means that we would have to fly or drive.  Driving would take a long time, plus we would have to pay for gas, but flying can be really inconvenient and expensive.  So really, it all boils down to the fact that I would love to go to Montreal, but I don't have the money.  Perhaps I should have a fundraiser...


It snowed last week!  It was kind of ridiculous.  It started on Friday night and snowed almost non-stop until Saturday afternoon.  By the end of the day on Saturday we had a good four inches of slushy snow on the ground.  We had a snowball fight on the way back from Saturday night mass.  It's pretty much all gone by now, obviously.  The weather has been wonderful the past week.  Not at all like it should be in November, but I'm not complaining.  


I was informed last weekend that I am too smart to be a communications major and that I should switch to English.  I ran this idea past my mom and she said "I'm not paying big bucks for my daughter to be an English major."  So I guess that means that I'm double-majoring. 


I am a co-ruler of the world.  Last weekend John and Vince and I played Risk.  Vince and I made an alliance and annihilated John and his red army.  Then we decided to take a little break (since it was eleven thirty) and come back to the game in a little bit.  In the meantime I almost fell asleep so we decided that we would call it a draw and share our power.  Thank goodness.  Risk can go on forever.  


HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS COMES OUT IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!  As you can probably tell, I am stoked.  Last night I watched the sixth to get me in the mood.  I can't wait.  Can.  Not.  Wait.  


And that's how Clara C's it!

Everything Good is in November

Happy All Souls Day!  And Happy Election Day!  And Happy All Saints Day (a day late)!  And Happy Halloween (two days late)!  So many things are happening this time of year I can't even fathom it.  I'm getting overwhelmed just blogging about them.  I'm very disappointed in myself because I didn't get my absentee ballot on time and therefore I couldn't vote.  So if Michigan politics get any worse (is that even possible?) I guess you can blame it on me and the fact that I didn't do my civic duty.  At least I am registered to vote.  There are some girls on the floor who aren't.  That's totally okay, I just think it's nuts.  One of the first things that my parents made me do after I turned eighteen was register.  I have voted before.  I got to do a voting test run during the primary elections in August.  Some guy named Virg or something like that was the democrat on that ballot.  That has to be the sketchiest name I've ever heard in my entire life.  


I think that my immune system is finally succumbing to sickness.  I have an 'indicator' that tells me when I am going to be sick.  My throat always gets really really sore.  My voice is fine but it hurts when I eat or drink.  I have no doubt that I will wake up tomorrow feeling like poop.  I just have to remember to continue to drink a lot of liquids.  


Halloween came and went and I think that we wish we all had a time machine and could go back an re-live that wonderful weekend.  I was going to be a bird but at the last minute I changed my mind and dressed up as Hermione Granger.  Why did I do such a thing?  Well, because I didn't look like a bird, I just looked like a fool with feathers coming out of my ass.  So I dressed up as the brightest witch of my age and it turned out swimmingly. 


On Friday night everyone played this game called Murder in the Dark.  I was too tired to play, but looking back on my decision to go to bed I definitely regret it.  From what I hear it sounds like the gang had a lot of fun getting kicked out of Dolan and wandering around Bernet pretending to kill one another.  Luckily we are going to play this Friday.  And they aren't going to play so late at night, so I can have fun, but still get my much needed ten hours of sleep.  


I found out today that Emma, my oldest sister, might be coming home for Thanksgiving, which is very exciting news!  At first we didn't think that she would be able to because we thought she would have to work this year because she managed to get Thanksgiving off last year (Emma is a nurse and so she has to work on holidays if they need her to).  However, she has Tuesday through Saturday off AND a free plane ticket so we may be seeing Emma sooner than we planned to.  Momma will be happy.  She told me today that she would like to have all her chickies in the nest again. 


I don't think that I have blogged about The Silver Bullet yet.  The Silver Bullet was our old car and it was wonderful.  It was a 1991 Volvo station wagon.  Since it was born in 1991 that means that when I started driving it at the age of 16 it was older than I was.  However, through an unfortunate turn of events mom and pop decided that they wanted to sell the Silver Bullet.  And then it was no more and now we drive a Buick.  We refer to it fondly as 'the Big Ugly Ick'. 


November is National Novel Writing Month!  So that means that you should all try to write novels.  I'm writing one.  It's actually a series of short stories, but that doesn't matter.  All that matters is that I write 50,000 words in the month of november.  I'm going to have to write about 25 short stories.  I have a concept though.  I am writing each short story with a color in mind.  So far I've done red and now I've moved on to dark blue.  I always have trouble writing dialogue, but I like writing description, so I'm very excited.  I love the way red turned out.  When I'm finished I will post my favorite ones so that you can read them!  So that's something to look forward to.  That and Thanksgiving.  November is just full of good things. 


And that's how Clara C's it!

Sound the Alarm! Fall is here!

Today, after lunch, we walked into the building to be surprised by the fact that there was a very loud alarm going off.  This alarm was not the fire alarm.  It was a mysterious sound that none of us had ever heard before.  It was this loud screeching buzz sort of noise that didn't have any breaks or fluctuations.  We thought that something was wrong so we went outside to see if anyone else would join us and when no one did we figured that it was okay to to back into the building.  The strangest thing about this whole experience was that the alarm could only be heard on the first floor.  Once we got up to the third floor you couldn't even tell that anything out of the ordinary was happening downstairs.  It's a mystery.


Well, fall weather is finally here and I think it's here for good this time.  Not that I mind it.  I love cooler weather.  When it gets cool out I have an excuse to wear BIG GREEN. Big Green is my winter coat.  It is very warm and I appreciate it more than anything on really cold winter days.  I have this hat that I like to wear with it that everyone in my family detests except my father.  My mom says that it makes me look like a lumberjack and my sisters say that it makes me look Russian.  It is green and brown and has these two really fuzzy ear flaps.  My dad likes it because he doesn't understand fashion.  I will admit, it's not very fashionable, but it is really warm.  When winter hits I believe in function over fashion.  


Have I ever spoken of my love for F. Scott Fitzgerald?  If there is one thing that everyone should know about me it's that I have a weird obsession with the works of that man.  This summer Kayli Horne and I threw a party much like the ones held in "The Great Gatsby".  We made people dress up and put lights in the trees and candles in the lawn and everything was beautiful and light and perfect.  I didn't bring that many books to college, but one of the ones that I had to bring was my copy of "Collected Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald".  My favorite short story by this wonderful man is called "The Offshore Pirate".  I won't tell you what it's about because I want you all to read it for yourselves so you too can appreciate the work in it's entirety.  Plus, I wouldn't do it justice in my retelling.  There is no way I can be as descriptive or as elegant as F. Scott.  No way in hell. 


John Weinandy payed me a very big compliment today and I don't even think he realized that he did.  I was taking a nap and was awakened by my phone buzzing at me.  I had a text from John saying that the John Carroll's radio station (WJCU) has Beirut in their collection of music. He knows that I LOVE Beirut so he asked me which song he should play.  I told him Scenic World, Elephant Gun, or Postcards from Italy.  He chose Scenic World.  I have influence.  I love it when people ask my opinion when it comes to music because I love music and I love to share the music that I love. 


Matt overfed Caesar Odin Fish the other day.  I thought for a second that he had been killed by the amount of food that he consumed but it turns out that he is okay.  I wish that fish could magically transform into Zoe.  I have decided that when I go home over Thanksgiving break I am devoting a whole entire hour to reveling with Zoe.  We will play "chase the bike" and "lay on the ground like slugs".  It will be a good time.   


And that's how Clara C's it!

A Chat With God

I met God last night.  Isn't that interesting?  Some kids were up on the fourth floor balcony and they were speaking to us in deep voices (they were trying to disguise their own) and they told us that they were God.  There were three of them.  God in three persons?  One of them is in my communication research class and he was trying to get me to tell him what the homework was.  I didn't know what it was and I told him so.  Then he said that when I figure it out just shoot him a prayer telling him what it is.  You may think that these kids were drunk, but we have reason to believe that they weren't.  They were acting goofy, but they were coherent and very attentive. Perhaps they were just a bit tipsy.  Either way, they provided us with a good 20 minutes of entertainment.  


My parents were in town this weekend and they took me to Trader Joe's yesterday.  I bought a lot of good food including pomegranates.  I LOVE pomegranates.  They are so delicious and so good for you.  I have three of them.  I am probably going to have to share them, but that's okay.  I like sharing.  Sharing is caring, right?


Sam Filar showed me the best blog ever on Friday.  It is called "Sleep Talkin' Man".  This woman started recording her husband in his sleep because he says really funny things.  In real life he is this mild mannered British gentleman, but in his sleep he is really vulgar and conceited and generally doesn't make much sense.  I highly suggest checking it out.  Just search "Sleep Talkin' Man" on blogspot and it should pop up. 


Last night my parents made me dinner at my Aunt Peggy's house.  I had steak, and roasted potatoes, and bread, and Greek salad, and shrimp.  It was absolutely delicious.  I haven't had that much food in such a long time!  I had a MAJOR food baby, but it was totally worth it.  


Another interesting thing happened last night.  If you stay up late enough crazy things start to happen in the building.  The God thing was the first crazy occurrence, but that was funny, so it was okay.  The second crazy happening was not so funny and slightly mysterious and also rather gross.  We heard someone up on the fourth floor and we thought maybe God was back.  Then we heard some scuffling around and then we heard something that sounded either like someone relieving themselves (if you know what I mean) or vomiting.  It was rather unpleasant and I'm sure we will get an e-mail about it at some point today if what we think happened really did happen.  


My sister drunk texted me last night.  That was fun.  She accidentally wrote "If you never need booze Kevin said he would buy it for you." Then she texted me again correcting herself, incorrectly.  She said "Ever not ever".  Oh Hansi.  


Matt had to go to a regatta in Boston this weekend, which is great because Boston is where Grant is.  I think it would have been funny if they had randomly met, but Boston is a big city and the odds of that happening are zero to none.  I don't know how far it is from the Cleve to Boston, but I should have stowed away in one of the vans and then snuck off to BU to visit Grant.  I have a giant suitcase.  I could have just had Matt say that it was his and voila, Clara is off to Boston!


I have to work on that project with those bros tonight, so that should be fun...


And that's how Clara C's it!

Bail Out

I am making a bread pudding as we speak. It's supposed to be great, so if it isn't I will be VERY disappointed.  I was supposed to go work on a group project for my FYS class but the kid I was supposed to work on it with bailed on me.  So I went to Bernet and now I am making a bread pudding with John and Vince and Justin.  Well, Justin isn't really helping that much, he just sort of showed up.  I'm not helping that much either.  


The fact that that kid didn't show up to work on the project really grates my jarlsberg!  I was halfway to the library when I got his message.  If I had gotten it earlier I wouldn't of even gone out.  It's rather chilly tonight and sometimes I get scared when I have to walk across campus by myself.  I have conquered my fear of the parking lot between Millor and Pacelli although Vince says that I haven't conquered it until I can be in the act of getting mugged in that parking lot and still feel safe.  I don't think he's right. 


I went shopping today and completed my halloween costume.  I am going to be a bird.  For those of you who have seen Seussical the Musical I am being Mayzie La Bird and for those of you who haven't seen it then I am just being a bird.  Matt went to get some stuff for his Halloween costume and he came back with new shoes.  I'm not going to lie, they are pretty cool.  They're boating shoes, so essentially they are Sperry's except they didn't cost 80 dollars.  


I am very excited for this weekend.  My parents are going to be here.  They were here last night, actually.  They brought me chili and Vandermill doughnuts and cider.  How does one spell doughnuts?  Is it doughnut or donut.  Both are correct with spell check, so which one do you use?  I think it's subjective, but according to all the people that I am with it is spelled D-O-U-G-H-N-U-T.


I went to the art museum again today.  We looked at Baroque art.  If it's not Baroque, don't fix it! That's what Holland and I say, anyway.  I think it's pretty clever.  


I have been informed that I should try to take a test without studying, but I don't think that that would be a good idea.  


And that's how Clara C's it!

P&P and a Couple of Nuts.

In my Major British Authors class we are reading Pride and Prejudice.  I CUSSING LOVE THAT BOOK!  I wish I could marry Mr. Darcy.  Or Mr. Bingley.  Pretty much I just wish I lived the life of Elizabeth Bennet.  She is so sassy and outspoken!  I love it.  Plus Jane Austen is just the best.  She was a woman who couldn't be tied down by the rules set out by society and I appreciate her for that.  She once said, "I'm a wild beast!  I can't help it!" Indeed you were Miss Austen, indeed you were.  


A couple days ago, at about midnight, Holland and I went outside and hunted for buckeyes.  A buckeye is a very disappointing little nut.  You can't eat them.  You can't do anything with them.  They are useless.  They do have one neat quality.  They are always cool.  They could be sitting in a hot room for four hours and they would still be a nice cool temperature.  I think that's pretty cool.  I don't know if buckeyes grow in Michigan or not.  If they do I have never seen any.  


So it's now fall break and every one is gone.  Laura and I have done a lot of roomie bonding.  Yesterday we had a picnic on the floor of our room and today we went shopping.  Laura has to buy winter clothes because she really doesn't have any that are adequate.  I guess Texas will do that to you.  


Kesha has a new song.  Lovely.  There is line in it that says "We'll make the hipsters fall in love with us".  I'm pretty sure a hipster would rather throw him or herself into a volcano than fall in love (or listen to) Kesha.  I mean, that's just a speculation, but I think it's pretty accurate.  


The dining hall is closed during fall break so we have had to come with alternative ways of feeding ourselves.  On Thursday night we got Chinese take-out.  Sixty dollars worth of food.  How great.  Yesterday Laura and I ate left overs and this morning we made ourselves an egg casserole.  It was actually really good.  It my be the best breakfast I've had since I've arrived at school.  I rarely get breakfast and when I do it usually just consists of cereal and a bagel.


Since I'm on this big Pride and Prejudice kick I decided that I should probably watch the movie versions of the book.  So, on Thursday I watched the entire five hour long mini-series of Pride and Prejudice from 1995.  Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy and it is amazing.  


And that's how Clara C's it!

In 1492...

Yesterday was Columbus day!  I bet you twenty bucks you didn't know it was Columbus day.  No one ever remembers Columbus day because usually no one gets anything out of Columbus day.  Everyone except Grant, that is.  Grant got the day off!  I was exceedingly jealous.  We tried to skype, but the internet connection was bad and we had to end the conversation after about five minutes of me being frozen on the screen.  It was a major disappointment.  


I have a French test tomorrow.  Not cool.  I won't give you the exact grade, but I will tell you that I didn't do very well on the last one and so I have to do better at this one because I don't want to let my grades get too low.  Apparently they will kick me out of the Honors Program if I let my GPA slip below a 3.5...so, pressure's on.  Good news!  I got a B on my Communications Research test.  A word of advice from me to you, dear reader, never ever take a Communications Research class if you can avoid it.  It's a lot of statistical tests and things that I don't have a great amount of love for.  Today we went over Chi-squared tests, which we learned in AP Bio, but I hoped would never show up in my life ever again.  Anyway, enough about classes and grades.  I don't want to make you throw up. 


Apple picking on Sunday was full of joyfulness!  It was so nice to get off campus and go out and about.  And by out and about I mean get lost in Cleveland for an hour before ever reaching the farm. It was no good because we got lost in the sketchiest part of Cleveland.  WE PASSED A PLACE CALLED SLAUGHTER'S!  If that isn't terrifying I don't know what is.  Anyway, aside from getting lost we has a great deal of fun picking apples.  Also, I got apple cider and caramel corn.  And a hole mess of apples.  Yum. 


Kayli Horne got on my case about not blogging continuously like I used to.  I didn't appreciate this very much, but I do think appreciate the fact that she likes to read my blog regularly.  She is my little prodigy of wit and my twin in many ways.  We co-hosted a Great Gatsby party over the summer.  It was the classiest party that Spring Lake has ever experienced.  She is Wilber in SLHS's production of "Charlotte's Web".  She is my dear sweet child.


Today we talked about what we are going to be for Halloween.  I am going to Velma from Scooby-Doo because she is my doppleganger.  I don't really know what anyone else is going to be.  Everyone always seems to favor the sexy costumes, but I don't.  I have been a lamb, a tree, a present, and a basket of laundry, to name a few.  My mother was very creative when it comes to costumes.  Matt thinks that I should be Snookie from Jersey Shore.  I guess I haven't completely dismissed the idea, but I don't think I'm orange enough to pull it off.  


Fall break is in two days, but I'm not going home.  I couldn't convince my parents to drive twenty hours in one weekend to come and get me.  I guess that's understandable.  I wouldn't want to spend twenty hours in a car if I were them either.  They have better things to do with their lives.  Luckily I get to see them in a week!  They are going to stop on their way to Washington D.C. to see Emma.  Then on their way back they are going to stop and stay for the weekend, which will be nice.  They are bringing me apple cider from Vandermill and some of the best donuts ever!  I'm pretty pumped.  


I found a leaf today that was extra special.  I don't know how many of you have seen "The Land Before Time", but since I babysit some precious little six year olds I am pretty familiar with it.  I found a tree star.  It's essentially a leaf that looks like a star.  It has a lot of sentimentality for Little Foot.  I gave it to Adam Boggs because he appreciates "The Land Before Time". 


And that's how Clara C's it! 

Oliphant Rage

We went to the art museum again on Wednesday.  This time we looked at Romanesque and Gothic art.  I saw a saint's relic.  It was a little bone of St. Sebastian.  It was kind of gross, but also pretty impressive.  They also had his horn made out of an elephant tusk, but they called in an oliphant.  If you've read or seen Lord of the Rings you will understand the significance of the oliphant.  I mean, it's not really that significant, but the oliphants are pretty cool and I thought it was funny that they called it an oliphant tusk instead of an elephant tusk.  


I was trying to write my FYS paper the other day and it wasn't really working out. It wasn't working out for two reasons.  The first reason is that I don't really know what to say in this particular essay. The second reason is because I don't appreciate the class very much.  I was working on my essay and all of a sudden all this rage boiled up inside of me and it resulted in my typing a page and a half about all of the problems that I have with FYS.  Here's a sample:"However, too much CO2 can be detrimental to life on Earth.  The thing is that I hate this class more than any class I have ever had to take in my entire life.  I kind of want to kill myself every time I walk into the classroom.  I have to sit on my hands and bite my tongue the entire period because if I don’t I’m afraid that I will blurt out something inappropriate to say in an educational setting."I am just going to have to power through this one.  

Lately I've been craving real food.  I mean, the food in the cafeteria wasn't bad for the first couple of weeks, but now it's starting to get a little repetitive and I'm starting to crave some Melissa Richter cooking.  My mom is a fantastic cook and college food is one thing that she did not successfully prepare me for.  You see, I've been spoiled all my life when it comes to food. My mother fed me too well in the past eighteen years of my life. If Melis was a bad cook then I would be just fine settling for the food in the cafeteria, but when I am measuring everything to her standard 'everything' just falls short.  

Has anyone ever had a meat pie?  I have never had one, but last night I was craving one.  I don't know why.  They're British and I've heard that British food can be pretty bland, but I would like to try one anyway.  I was probably hungry for meat more than a meat pie, but since meat pie has the word meat in it my tummy thought it sounded good.  

Matt and I are very happy because Fish has revived himself!  Over the weekend, when Matt was taking care of him, he was apparently very lethargic and wouldn't swim up from the bottom of the tank.  He was like that for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday too and I was worried that he was going to die!  Luckily he didn't and yesterday he started swimming around, as happy as a little fish could be!  He is sitting on the window-sill right now, because plant needed some sun.  

It's homecoming weekend back home.  A lot of people are going home for it and  I wish I was too, but I can't.  Mother and Father think that twenty hours is a long drive for one weekend and, no matter how much I don't want to, I have to agree.  I wouldn't want to be in the car for twenty hours, either.  

For all of you who are wondering I won't be home until Thanksgiving.  If you would like to see me let me know and I will pencil you in.  I can't make any promises, as I am in high demand in the 49456.

And that's how Clara C's it! 

Photographs and Quirky Dawgs

I had a test today.  It wasn't really that cool.  I don't think I did terribly, but I don't think I did that fantastic either.  Usually when I have that feeling about a test I did badly.  I have a suggestion for all of you who aren't in college yet:  don't waste your time with it because it's worthless.  You think you are smart, until you go to college and you realize that you actually know nothing.  


I did totally kick ass today in my Major British Authors class.  The teacher asked about logos, ethos and pathos and (thanks to AP English) I knew them all.  And I was the only one in my class who did.  And I am the only freshman in my class.  I have never felt better in my entire time at college.  


I am trying to justify buying a new camera.  It's not very expensive, but I don't really have a lot of money to spend on anything right now PLUS the film is really expensive to develop.  However, I have solved this problem.  I am going to learn to develop my own film.  I think it would be a cool skill to know.  When my uncle was younger he converted one of the rooms of his house into a dark room so I'm thinking that he could teach me what I need to know.  What really grates my cheese, though, is the fact that there isn't a dark room anywhere on campus.  I have considered changing one of the empty rooms on our floor into a dark room but the lack of sink could be a problem.  Perhaps I could install one...?


I met a crazy dog this weekend.  His name is Nate the Dawg.  Nate the Dawg likes to drink beer.  Apparently during the day people will give him little sips of beer and by the end of they day he will be passed out under the table.  Oh Nate.  My sister calls him Nate-Nate and Darin calls him Nathaniel.  He is the funniest little dog I have ever met.  His funniness is enhanced because he has a horrible haircut.  It looks like someone attacked him with a razor.  Poor puppy.  When he met me he was so excited he peed.  


FYS is seriously a waste of my time and money.  I have never had to take a more worthless class.  I considered skipping on Monday, but morally I couldn't let myself.  Here's the thing.  I am overly conscientious and therefore I won't let myself do anything.  It's a blessing and a curse.  


I don't know how to incorporate Matt into my blog today.  Oh hey!  Problem solved.  Also, he is letting me sleep with Magic Sleeping Blanket tonight.  Isn't that nice?  I think it is. 


And that's how Clara C's it!

Y'all are So Cute!

I love Jack Kerouac.  Want to know how to ruin Jack Kerouac for me?  Cast Kristen Stewart as Marylou in the film adaptation of his classic "On the Road".  I'm sorry, but I have no love or respect for Kristen Stewart and putting her in the film will totally ruin it for me.  She is just going to be the same way she is in every other movie she is in.  Boring and slightly lifeless.  Ugh. 


Yesterday was possibly the longest day of my life.  I had classes in the morning and then I sat in the car for six hours, but finally I made it to Washington D.C.!!!  It's so wonderful here!  Emma said that it had been monsooning until the day before, but it stopped just in time for my arrival.   I ate real meat and real pasta and slept in a bed that was bigger than a twin.  It was lovely.  


Today we went to Virginia.  I love Virginia.  The people in Virginia are so nice!  We went to this antique store and poked around for almost two hours.  By antique store I mean antique complex.  It was three houses and at least six sheds filled with old things and new things and really, really cool things. I bought a necklace made out of an old type writer key.  It says "Shift Freedom".  I have to get a new chain, though, because the one that it is on is really very ugly.  


After we went antiquing we had roadside barbecue.  Oh my gosh!  I have never had better pulled pork in my life.  It was one of those times when you're eating something and you want it to never end.  I could have gone on eating that sandwich forever and been perfectly happy.  


With our bellies full of pork we ventured off to a winery.  I was a little disappointed that I couldn't taste the wine, but I did get some free GUS (Grown Up Soda).  It's pretty much sparkling water and lemon.  It's pretty darn yummy.  I decided that I want to have my wedding reception at the winery that we went to.  It has this beautiful patio and you can sit out there for as long as you want and sip your wine and listen to music and watch the vines grow.  The winery is run by this little Brazilian man of about 70 years old and his family.  He told us all about his business and everything that it entailed and he was adorable. 


Tonight I had the pleasure of eating the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life.  I ate four pieces.  It was called 'black sheep'.  It had feta, lamb sausage, basil, and this delicious vinigrette dressing.  Then, with my belly full of pizza Emma and I walked around her back yard and by back yard I mean The Capitol.  We took ice cream in mugs because we wanted dessert, but we also wanted to go somewhere to eat it.  So we ate it on the steps of The Capitol building.  It was so wonderful.  


Matt is taking care of Rosebud while I am gone.  He is referred to as 'Uncle Matt'.  He is also feeding my fish which is super nice.  I thought that I killed my fish the other day, that was tragic.  Luckily he is still alive and kicking.  What a little trooper!  Tomorrow I head home.  Wish me safe travels!!


And that's how Clara C's it!