...In which our heroine ponders the nature of summer.

Summer is in full swing and it is just as odd as I thought it would be. On Friday I had a conversation with my two best friends until 4:30 AM about the past six months and the like. One of the friends admitted a lot of things to me that I needed, no, deserved to hear. It was one of those talks that teen movies like to dramatize and glorfiy, but nonetheless a talk I was quite glad to have. And one that let me finally breath a sigh of relief about the next year.

Oh and the trials of teenage love in the summer. To date, five couples have broken up and there have been more than a few scandalous flings. (Our heroine wishes to leave no comment on her involvement in such romantic entanglements at this point but updates will be included as necessary.) Sunshine, freedom, and hormones. It's a joy to be in the frenzy. Although I would love to say we are par-taying it up this summer, most of us work too much to have the epically superbad summer we would like. I'm still having a blast though. I love going to bed at 2 every night.

Funny how I am reading a book that applies so perfectly-- I Love You, Beth Cooper is by Larry Doyle and is about a geeky debater named Denis who decides to declare his love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper in his valedictory speech and the night following said speech. The book is really really funny and many things (the IB kids who go wild senior year, descriptions of high school parties, the general awkwardness of male/female relations) are wonderfully written. It doesn't hurt that each chapter starts with a quote from the likes of Claire Standish or Jeff Spicoli. All you need to do to tug at Katydid's heartstrings is drop a John Hughes reference and it is LOVE.

That's been summer so far: romantic upheavals, work, moderate antics, and lots of fun.

...In which our heroine does some quick hit reviews.

In the order that I saw them:

The Strangers

Went to see this a few weeks ago at midnight with a packed house. What a great horror film--nothing fancy, not gory or overly violent, just subtle scary little tricks. The theatre was shouting the whole time and most of the group I was with watched through their hands. Horror movies do not scare me as a general rule, except for Candyman and Audition. Oh but this one did. With the blank faced killers and the true story-ness of it all, I was terrified. If it wasn't for Nate's commentary to keep me laughing, it could have been ugly. As for negatives, the movie is a little overacted and things like Wilco vinyl at the ready and the usual cliched deaths/ending keep it from being great. Still an effective, scary movie. I reccomend.

Grade: B

Sex and the City

I had low expectations for this hot mess and I was greatly suprised. If you watched the show, you'll like the movie. Its basically all of the good things from the show rolled into one big episode. Kristen Davis and Cynthia Nixon finally get to show that they can act, Kim Cattrall does cougar well still, and SJP is boring as ever. Still it is a faithful transition of the show, full of relationship and fashion porn. I didn't even hate the addtion of Jennifer Hudson as Carrie's assisstant. The movie was like the show--pretty good with a few too many over the top theatrics, but a heart in the right place. Most significantly, the movie is waaay too long, at almost two and a half hours.

Grade: B

A Clockwork Orange

I can't believe it took me so long to see this. But now that I have, it is an instant favorite. I was amazed at how current the film felt, although it was made in 1971, and also how risque it was. It is totally understandable how this caused (and still causes) an uproar. Alex DeLarge is a wonderful antihero, and he and his iconic droogs are gleefully debauched. I'm not going to summarize it, because I feel like I'm the last person ever to see this movie, but I really enjoyed the overall look and feel of the film, in addition to its comments on society and the individual. Apparently the film ends too soon but I loved it all the same.

Grade: A

Into the Wild

I was familiar with the story of Christopher McCandless and his trek into the Alaskan wilderness that led ultimately to his death. Sean Penn is an interesting director (I highly reccomend his first film, The Indian Runner, featuring an outstanding early performance by Viggo Mortensen) and this film was a good choice for him. The cinematography is absolutely goregous and the landscapes of America become a character. The film is quite well-acted, and lead Emile Hirsch proves that he is one of the best young actors in the biz. This isn't always an easy film to watch, especially the scenes of McCandless' last days in Alaska, but one that makes you feel that life really is what you make it. As much as Eddie Vedder (who kissed me) annoys me now, his music really adds to the film. I don't think this is a tragic film but instead quite life affirming one. Sean Penn needs to direct more. I didn't however, think that the roles of Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook were substantial enough to warrant the awards acclaim they recieved.

Grade: A-

...In which our heroine supports her own.

By itself, this news story wouldn't be too remarkable. Disturbing, as it involves a grandmother who beat her 16-year-old grandaughter after catching her in a lesbian relationship, but sadly not suprising.

What struck me about this story was how similar it was to the story involving one of my own friends. Her lesbian relationship was discovered by her grandmother. Things got ugly--she was kicked out of her house, threatened to be reported to the police (her girlfriend is older, and basically excommunicated from her own family. A family that includes a formerly drug addicted brother, children born out of wedlock and abandoned, and another brother who was himself engaging in a relationship with someone underage. But he wasn't gay.

This friend is one of my oldest. Along with her, another one of my closest, oldest friends is also a lesbian, or perhaps bisexual. While the friend who got kicked out of her house is now living with her girlfriend half a country away, my other friend is not out of the closet. I worry for the day when her family finds out, worried that they will react the same way.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't moderately shocked when I found out both of these girls, girls I've known since we were 5, were gay. Sure, I was accepting of gay people before, but it was still startling to find out that people you seemingly knew everything about were in one fundamental way different.

These girls have had major issues in their lives--one turned to cutting to get her through a depression, and the other started becoming a little too dependent on painkillers after knee surgery. Since each of them has embraced their sexuality and begun relationships, they have never been happier. And if they're happy, then so am I.

I love both of those girls and something like them being gay could never stop the friendship I have with them. I get personally offended whenever someone says something cruel. I just hope that their families, and the family in the story above, could realize that to love someone means to love every part of them, for better or worse. It amazes me that someone could treat someone they "love" so poorly for something that they cannot change. Such is life I guess, and I hope there comes a day when the families I've discussed here realize how many lovely things they are giving up for one they don't.

...In which our heroine is curious.

Ever since I heard about David Fincher's next project, I was intrigued. I really really like Fincher's style, and aside from Panic Room, all of his films (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, The Game) have been quality.



The project is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, based on an F. Scott Fittzgerald short story about a man who ages in reverse. I first saw the trailer before Indiana Jones, and it was LOVE. I cannot wait for this movie--I don't know what about the trailer intrigues me so, but with Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton, I'm so there when it comes out at Christmas.

...In which our heroine recognizes her doom.

I renewed Netflix yesterday and it still remembered all my old queue. First up are A Clockwork Orange and Into the Wild. I'm doing 2 movies at a time this go-round. And you can watch selected titles online? Oh no.

Well there goes the productivity. See it flying...descending...crashing into a fiery cataclysm.

Oh and work sucks. 30 hours a week at Bob's is much too much. No wonder the day shift ladies are bitches. I now understand why.

...In which our heroine wraps it all up.

Graduating high school has been exhausting. I'm not complaining, but its been a lot of work. Practice, parties to go to, parties to set up, family obligations/dinners--all on top of a 30 hour work week. But it has been fun and after next weekend the parties slow to a trickle throughout the coming months.

My graduation fiesta was yesterday and was a smash. The days leading up to it...not so much. I thought my Mom was going to have an aneuresym around 2 on Saturday and my meltdown came when I couldn't figure music set up out. I didn't care if the yard chairs were clean, but I wanted my playlist damnit! I was just glad to have everyone together, which always makes me feel a sense of support, and as some of my family ages, I wonder how many more times we'll all be together.

I got the best new toy ever as a gift. Its a monster of a machine that converts cassettes to mp3. HELLLOOO WOXY TAPES! I only have 151 to convert in 3 months, no problem. I also got I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You, lovely cards, and some early college care packages. I also now possess more stolen goods as well and another card that I can't make sense of, just like my birthday and Christmas. Joy.

I should review The Strangers and Sex and the City at some point but I've been too busy. Now I'm off to read (The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver) and continue to sweat profusely in my inferno of a house.

...In which our heroine has changed-- for good.

Its over, finally over. There was sorrow and joy, but mostly joy.

I am a high school graduate and still feeling pretty bittersweet about the whole experience. Yeah, of course I'm glad for no more late IB nights or hounding reporters about drafts or marching band, but I'm really sad about the people I might never see again.

On the way to school last night, "And She Was" came on the radio. It was a perfect song for the moment--"The world was moving, she was right there with it and she was." The whole experience seemed kind of surreal to me, from putting the gown on to lining up in Xavier's auxillary gym. It didn't seem real until I heard the first strands of "Pomp and Circumstance."

The ceremony was kind of upsetting, but mostly just annoying thanks to classless idiots and boring speeches. However, once the last name was called and the excitement began, the joy was infectious. The confetti blast at the end brought the joy to fruition. That was all the walk out of the auditorium was: pure joy. I can't even explain how excited I was to find Cassie afterwards, to walk out with her hand in hand, and hug and congratulate my peers.

It was a sad evening for me, but a lovely one, full of love and finality and elation. I felt surronded by all those that helped me get to this point, and I can honestly say I graduated high school without one regret. Sure I made bad choices, but I made plenty of good ones too and all of them together made me who I am today.

The fam went out to dinner then Cassie came over. She hadn't been over in a while and it was nice to just talk until 3AM and listen to Death Cab and Rilo Kiley and watch Daft Punk videos. That was joy, staring at the ceiling and talking and singing "The Sound of Settling" and...haha Motorhead. I can say I was lucky enough to find a best friend in high school who aligned so perfectly with me. I am also lucky for sitting next to Kevin and going to lunch with Kara, people I have known for thirteen years. Kevin said it best, "Thirteen years together, and this is the last time," while we were on the bus.

As always, music continually defines all the key moments in my life. Whether it was the A Cappella choir making me cry during "For Good," for all the truth those lyrics hold, or the turn on the radio which immediatley brought the lyrics "I've been waiting for this moment all my life, but its not quite right," from Silversun Pickups, or listening to "Layla" for the millionth time with Cassie, music equals memory.

High school is officially over. Semisonic said it best though--"Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end." The end has come, and I have been changed by Princeton, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good.