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Part 1
Part 2
Bella prints a photo on her product-placement Canon Printer. It is a picture of Edward and her. She folds it so that only Edward is showing and taps that to her table.
School. Bella’s friends are childish. She looks around for the Cullens. Their table is empty.
Edward is standing in her room, looking at the photo on her table. They really have no respect AT ALL for privacy.
He does not appear to have changed out of last night’s outfit. He unfolds her photo.
Bella returns home in her truck. She sees him standing by himself in a field. He is staring at the ground. Or his feet. He seems to enjoy doing that a lot.
Edward takes her for a walk. When they are suitably far away from human civilization (never mind the hitchhiker killer, or Edward’s tendency to hurt Bella when he tries to protect her), Edward informs Bella that they have to leave Forks. Unfortunately, this is in no way a proposal for Edward and Bella to elope.
Carlisle is supposed to be ten years older than he looks. People are beginning to notice. And uh, no one noticed the Cullen teens at all these ten years? Bella immediately assumes she’s going with them and says she’s got to think of something to tell Charlie.
Then she stops, somehow inferring from Edward’s emotionless face that she’s not coming with them. No, seriously. He doesn’t look sad, or pained or ANYTHING.
Bella, on the other hand, becomes clearly upset. She looks like she’s about to throw a strop, but womanfully tells Edward that what happened to Jasper was nothing. R.Pattz tries to look pained. He does this by furrowing his brow as he gives her the “Dear John” speech.
Bella petulantly (facial expression, not voice) tells Edward that she belongs with him, daring him to say otherwise. She says she’s coming. He doesn’t want her to come.
Bella demonstrates her brilliance in comprehension by echoing “You don’t want me…?”
Edward: No. (No, I don’t want you, or no, I want you, I just don’t want you to come? CLARITY OF COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE! CLARITY!!!)
“That changes things. A lot.” Changes… what? Your determination to go? Your love for him? Your desire to become a vampire? Urh?
Edward tries to make Bella promise not to do anything reckless. In exchange, he’s going to let her live her life without any inference from him. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you remember how controlling his sister is, and how the Cullens don’t care about her privacy, it becomes a big deal.
R. Pattz delivers his break-up speech in such a lazy tone of voice I’m not sure he’s even bothering to act. Either that or he’s half-asleep.
Bella is annoying. “If this is about my soul, take it, I don’t want it without you.” I want to slap her. Your boyfriend tells you he’s leaving and you make a last ditch attempt to make him turn you into a vampire? This is about your safety and well-being, NOT YOUR SOUL. There is no logic in her statement at all. What good would her soul be to Edward without her? It’s not like he’s dating her because she has a soul and he wants to steal it. Also, I know you’re heathen and all, but you really shouldn’t be so casual about your soul.
Edward tells her in plain English that it is not about her soul. Then he lies and says she’s not good for him. I call this a lie because he clearly doesn’t believe what he’s saying himself, though it’s true, you know. It’s true that she’s not good for him.
Bella: (again, warps what he says) I’m not good enough for you…
*throttles Bella* There is a DISTINCT difference between not being good for someone and not being good enough for someone! One implies that you cause the other person harm and the other implies you do not measure up to the standards that the other person has. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Do you not UNDERSTAND the words that are coming out of his mouth, or do you merely hear what you want to hear to satisfy your own self-pity?
Bella looks like she’s about to faint. The camera is getting a little crazy too. She hyperventilates, “Please… don’t..”
He kisses her and leaves her alone in the darkening forest. Classy.
She shouts his name as she runs around in the forest. Night falls. It is.. TWILIGHT! Heh heh.
She falls and hyperventilates in a curled up ball. And… passes out, I hope. It would be Epically Funny if she just decided to fall asleep in the middle of the forest.
Blackout. Snarling. Bare-chested person carries her out. People, milling around her Swann house, the town having turned up in full force to find the missing Bella.
Sam enters, carrying Bella. No one seems to question the suspicious circumstances of him being half-naked. “Oh, I always do my searches shirtless. In the fall. No, no, I’m not cold at all.”
The Native Americans stare at each other manfully, tensely, all “we have a secret!”. Jacob looks way. I have no idea what this was supposed to accomplish at all.
It is October. Bella stares out of her window like a catatonic schizophrenic. Art film-esque filming with the camera moving around her to signify the months that have passed. She wonders who else she can talk to and says “she’s lost”.
Bella is melodramatic about Edward leaving and “taking everything” with him. The sound track starts to annoy me with its childish sounding singer.
Bella: It’s like a huge hole has been punched through my chest. (I’m not entirely sure if this is at all grammatical. How can you punch a hole through something? You can punch a hole in something.)
Bella screams like she’s possessed. She ups the creepiness ante by sitting alone at the Cullens’ table. She screams again in the night. I wish Charlie would have her committed.
Bella: In a way I’m glad. The pain is the only reminder that he was real.
Now, this sounds to me a lot like Bella not moving on, and I have no sympathy for her because Bella + Edward is not the greatest love story ever. If this story was set in the 14th century, her folks, no, anyone around her would surely say that she’d been “bewitched” by this Edward Cullen and she could stand for an exorcism. I would definitely welcome seeing that.
The silly bint continues sending emails even though they don’t got through at all. This means she is delusional.
After three months of this nonsense, Charlie finally says: “Alright. That’s it.” He wants to send her to Jacksonville to live with her mother.
Bella refuses to leave, and you know it’s because of the Cullens because she HATED Forks when she first arrived. She moaned about having to live with Charlie, about the uncool people in her classes and blah blah blah, she didn’t like it there.
Charlie admits that her behaviour is abnormal and scaring the hell out of him. Dude. You have my sympathy. Screaming at night and staring off into space but not crying at all is verging on “paranormal possession”.
Bella lies to her father about knowing that they’re not coming back and seeing her old friends. We all know that’s not true, so once again Bella is delusional. She makes up something about shopping with Jessica. Charlie buys it.
Outside a movie theatre. Jessica blathers on about the movie “The Dead Come Back”. I c wut u did thar! Or in this case, the undead Cullens will come back. Bella isn’t listening, but instead reminiscing about being menaced and saved by Edward.
Disembodied Edward appears. I laugh. She gasps and ducks away from him, totally freaked out. He tells her what she’s thinking of doing is dangerous. She pretends to know the bikers and goes over to talk to them. Bella, Bella, Bella… do you not.. at all care about what Edward made you promise? To keep yourself safe? And you call putting yourself in danger… love? It’s rather selfish, Bella.
And I’d like to point out another thing. Hallucinations? That’s another symptom of schizophrenia. Bella is bonkers.
Disembodied Edward warns her off again. Of course Bella doesn’t care. She’d stab a knife in her brain and refuse surgery if it helped her see Edward more. Hairy biker, starting to bald dude gives her a look, like “Yes?”
He gives her a once over and ewwwwwwwwwwww gross. She’s a teenager, man. You look like you’re what, FORTY? That’s one. For two, she’s completely bundled up, and yes, while she is pretty, there is nothing sexually attractive about her. Wrong wrong wrong! Paedophile!
She goes off on a thrill ride with biker dude. She’s scared and half way through she screams for him to stop, finally showing some emotion.
Jessica: Hey, what the hell’s wrong with you?
Despite annoyingly ending every sentence like it’s a question, Jessica seems like a sensible person.
Jess: You’re insane, actually. (True.) Or suicidal. (True!) That home boy, could’ve been a psycho!
Oh Jessica, have you only been recently introduced to the Bella’s Really Bad Ideas Show? I hear it’s in the second season now, and apparently very popular with the pre-teens and teenagers.
Bella says it was such a rush. She comes off sounding like an addled druggie.
Jessica: …Awesome. So you’re an adrenalin junkie now? That’s cool. You can go bungee jump, not get on the back on some random guy’s motorcycle! Crazy!
I like Jessica. She’s normal! And sensible!
Bella gets an idea for Really Bad Ideas episode 2.
Bella: Maybe I’m crazy now, but that’s okay. If a rush of danger is what it takes for me to see him, then that’s what I’ll do.
See? Bella NEEDS TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED, post-haste. Put her in one of those straitjacket thingies so she won’t hurt herself.
The Cullen parents apologise for
Bella shakes her head, but even if she did, what would
Emmett is jocky, and jokes about Edward dating an older woman. Hot!
Edward gives him a look, half shaking his head, half amused.
Emmett: What?
Or maybe he did. He already installed it in her truck. *facepalm* Do the Cullens have no respect for privacy?
The next present is from
No, it’s a paper cut, Bella informs us. There is NO WAY a paper could ever be that deep. Said paper cut causes so much blood to well up that a drop falls dramatically into the carpet.
The suspense is killing me. I cant wait to see it…had my tickets for a month!
What is this I hear about MR writing Breaking Dawn for a pg audience? Surely not.
I am 28, my sister is 35 and my mom is in her late 50’s and we are all obsessed with Twilight. I’ll be ticked if they butcher Breaking Dawn to tailor it to a bunch of 10 year olds.
I’m so sick of hearing about Twilight being for pre-teens and teenagers!
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH
Right, anyhoo: “… paper cuts usually do not bleed much, if they bleed at all.” – Wisegeek,com
Jasper sees the blood. Edward sees Jasper. (NB: This would only happen with Bella, who is magically delicious.) Tense moment with violins. To protect Bella from Jasper, Edward backhands his woman into a side table!
I kid you not. There is a smashing sound, so it sounds like beloved Edward has managed to inflict even more injury on Bella while trying to protect her. Dude, you’re a 109 year old vampire. Surely… just maybe, you would’ve learnt how to control your strength by now? I’m just saying.
This is from the script. A script. That I found online.
*Edward FLINGS Bella behind his own body, causing her to CRASH into the table*
In the movie, however, Bella literally flies backward through the air. She landed butt first into the table. I do not call this “flinging someone behind your own body”. I would’ve understood if you pushed her back slightly and the clumsy bint tripped over her own feet to crash into the table, but this… THIS is Edward hitting Bella so hard that her feet lifted off the ground like she was being pulled backwards by an invisible force determined to destroy her gift table.
Jasper is still coming for the downed girl. Edward pushes him back. He flies into the air too. Hee hee. More table smashing. Choreographed fighting as the other Cullens try to stop Jasper. He snarls in the direction of Bella, obviously overcome with anger at her clumsin-…, I mean, overcome with bloodlust. (“I. JUST. CLEANED. THOSE. CAAAAAAAAARPETS!”)
Alice
Carlisle
Edward is stone-faced as
Dr. Cullen’s office.
Bella: (looks disbelieving) Damned? Like …like Hell?
I want to slap her bored-know-it-all face. Bella tells
Carlisle
Bella asks if that’s the reason Edward won’t change her.
Fair argument, and I have to say
Bella’s truck. Edward has driven her home. They stop in front of her house. She appears, at first, to be trying to console him by telling him that he can’t protect her from everything. Which is a low blow anyway to someone who wants to protect her from everything. Except
However, when she goes into how there’s always going to be something to separate them, like accident, or illness….or… old age, the truth dawns upon me. She’s making her “Turn me into a vampire” sales pitch.
Bella: … as long as I’m human. (Bada-bing, Bada-BAM!)
Bella: …and the only solution is to change me. (Did nothing that
I now type the dialogue with close-captioning for the inference-impaired.
Edward: That’s not a solution, that’s a tragedy. [I don’t want to turn you into a vampire to save your life but damn you for eternity. What profit a man that he should gain the world, but lose his soul?]
Bella: You’re not going to want me when I’m an old grandmother. [I am insecure and think that your love for me is appearance-based. Also, change me into a vampire!]
Edward gets out of the truck and asks her if she does not understand his feelings for her. Bella finally remembers what
I… *sigh* Bella, Edward’s beliefs won’t change because you don’t hold his beliefs. He ultimately has to live with what HE believes for the rest of his life, so how can he possibly not worry about your soul based on your say so? Do you sincerely expect Edward to say “Oh, if you don’t believe that, that’s okay then! I’ll willingly damn your soul on my own beliefs!” Do you expect Edward to give up his beliefs because they do not align to yours?
Edward very rightly does not engage her and tiredly tells her to go in because it’s late. I share your pain, man.
Bella asks for a birthday present. She tells Edward to kiss her, but she looks like she’s taunting him… daring him to do it.
Edward frowns, looking very much like he’s going to cry, but he leans in and kisses her. They both make gaspy little noises. Either this kiss is…very painful… or highly erotic. The grunts and jerky head movements make it look almost like he was eating her face off. Which might have very well been the case!
They say their “I love yous”. Camera pans on Edward’s face as he says it, but Robert Pattison is deadpan, as if he’s saying it for the sake of saying it.
He leaves.
Tis a foreshadowing!
Opening credits - whimsical piano melody as the moon fades into "luna neuva"
Scene out of the Da Vinci Code - uh, I mean, throngs of people dressed in red cloaks set obviously in the
Dramatic Bella is says something dramatic about violence as she pushes through the people in red coats. An abnormally fast clock turns twelve. Bella pushes her way through.... into a forest. In a distance, there is an old woman. "Gram?"
Camera pans away, she is otherwise alone in the forest.
Edward comes out, playing the part of Byronic Broody.
Grandmother's lips move as Bella introduces Edward. Awkward pause. Bella puts on her frowny face. The two women size each other up as cardboard Edward stares at Bella's feet.
The old woman seems to be mirroring Bella's movements. Camera pans back to reveal that it is a mirror.
Edward wishes her happy birthday. [Sorry, I must take a moment from the recap to rant about this. Bella, you are turning EIGHTEEN. Not EIGHTY. Good grief woman - if turning 18 makes you an old woman to Edward, I must be what... fossilized? Petty teenagers and their petty insecurities.]
Bella wakes up. "Romeo et Juliet" is lying on her pillow. This is to show she is a literary chick. Will your brilliance never cease, S. Meyer?
There is a knock on the door.
It's Charlie, wishing her happy birthday! Bella does not say thank you, or smile, or you know, do anything that would show her appreciation.
She finally acknowledges that Charlie can do something right - "Well (or could be wow, I'm not sure), it's actually great." She *actually* thanks him.
Charlie is sad she’s “grown old so fast”. Bella is defensive: "I didn't. It's not that old."
Charlie teases her about grey hair. Bella freaks out - "That's not that funny." [Her face says "Haha", but her voice says "I'm going to kill you."]
Annoying rock music as we pan over scenery of what I assume is Forks. Oh, it's the radio, reporting that another hiker was found dead. But no one in Forks seems to talk about it or care.
School. Bella's friends are lame and not funny. She takes a picture of them for the scrap book her mother gave to her.
"Oh good, Cullen's here." This time, faces say "Die!", voice says "Yay!"
Bella attempts to look interested at her boyfriend walking towards her.
A good ten seconds of the film is devoted to filming Edward walk across the carpark. Wow, thank you, Chris Weitz. I really needed to watch R.Pattz walk dramatically. Bella, however, is unmoved. Tight, close-lipped, barely there smile as he wishes her a happy birthday. She gets upset again.
Edward: Your birth is something to celebrate.
Bella: Well, my aging is not.
And we come to the crux of why Bella is freaking out about growing older - because she's one year older than Edward. [This is such a vain excuse that I... I'm not going to even go there. If she didn't like birthdays in general, I would understand, but this is probably some new resolution she cooked up because of her deep seated insecurities that Edward will only love her if she's perfect. Unfortunately, S. Meyer isn't good at writing, cannot create this effect, and Bella just comes off to a lot of mature readers as merely wanting desperately to become a vampire because she doesn't want to grow old. When I say mature readers, I mean people who have read widely. Then again, Twilight is for "intermediate" readers, so I guess it's appropriate. Sorry for the digression. Back to the story.]
Edward reminds her that he's actually a hundred and nine. Bella makes a joke, but she looks like she's really pissed off or something. She says she should be thoroughly repulsed at dating an old man as Edward leans into kiss her. They make out a bit. There is zero chemistry. I feel creeped out watching them kiss because they don't behave like a couple - it's like two strangers kissing. Let me quote to you from the script: "despite restraint, the passion mounts"
Right. I don't see any restraint because I don't see any passion.
Sad music from opening credits play again. Why? She's sad that she's growing old? Kissing Edward? That they have no chemistry? That they have to go to class? Huh??? The use of music could be clearer and more appropriate.
Bella's face lights up so much more seeing Jacob. Edward is all, ugh, not him again. He walks off, leaving Bella with Jacob, his face all frowny.
Bella comments on Jacob's biceps, attributing them to anabolic steroids. Jacob zings Bella - "It wouldn't seem so drastic if we hung out more." She asks him to change schools. [Yeah, Bella, hon... it's not all about you. Change schools just so he can hang out with you?]
Awkward and pointless chatting. Jacob's teeth are shiny white. Broody Edward looks on disapprovingly in the background.
Later, in the school hallway, Edward jealouses that Jacob got to give Bella a gift but Edward wasn't allowed to.
Bella: Because I have nothing to give back to you. [LOGIC FAIL, Bella. 1) It's your birthday and 2) What did you ever give to Jacob? You could have just told Edward that Jacob didn't know about your "no presents" rule. Besides, I don't know how refusing to celebrate your birthday will make you not grow older, unless this is a "don't remind me" rant, in which case,
Edward is Byronic, fails to note Bella's Logic Failure. "You could give me everything by just breathing."
Bella: (sighs/gasps - I can't tell, perhaps it's the bad quality of the movie, but I don't know if she's annoyed or overwhelmed by his declaration.) (Deadpans) See, thank you, that's all I want. (Tight smile)
Pixie!
The Cullens are throwing Bella a birthday party, or Alice is, and the rest of them indulge/allow her. You can see the uneasiness on Bella's face, but she doesn't say no to
Bella cleverly informs first time followers of Twilight that that is Jasper, and he has the power to manipulate the emotions of others. Also, my bad. The resolution of this online movie is bad, and from a distance, Jasper does look like he has short dreadlocks fluffed out afro style, but really, it's just an angelic halo of curls. I do not like it, nonetheless. He looks like he stepped out from a Charles Dickens movie.
Jasper apologises, and tries to wish Happy Birthday and falters. Possibly due to the death glare from Bella, but we never get to see it because, and I'm jumping to conclusions here before the movie ends, K.Stewart seems to have little range of emotion.
Edward: Can't trust vampires. Trust me.
Bella looks utterly disgusted with the lot of them. Or perhaps she’s not. I don’t know what the director is trying to achieve here.
Classroom. Death scene from Romeo and Juliet. Literature/English teacher is mouthing along. Bella's friends are crying. All in all over-the-top camp - of course, Edward and Bella are cool and detached.
Bella says something. I'm not sure, but it sounds like... "I hate being celibate"? No, wait. That can't be it. *does quick online search of New Moon script.* Ah, my bad, folks, it's "I hate being celebrated."
But you know she hates being celibate too. Make note too that SHE caused the distraction first by making it All About Her. Hon, if you hate being celebrated, then stop whining about it. Stop talking about it. Ignore people when they wish you happy birthday. Put your foot down and refuse to go. Complaining about it just draws more attention to yourself. Of course, that’s probably what you want.
Edward asserts that there are worse tragedies than birthdays. Like Romeo killing his true love out of sheer stupidity. Let's not forget he killed HIMSELF, too, out of sheer stupidity. But Edward does envy him.
Bella jealouses about how Juliet is perfect, if you like that "obviously beautiful sort of thing".
Edward: Not the girl, the suicide.
Basically, Edward wishes euthanasia was an option for him. Bella looks at him, concerned and eye-baggy. Edward says he considered it once because he wasn't sure he would get to her in time for rescue her from bitey James the previous year.
Now, this is rather strange to me. One would think that his thoughts would be too consumed with hoping and praying he could get to Bella in time to think about how he could kill himself if she was dead. Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't even CONSIDER the possibility that my beloved was dead before setting my eyes on his/her dead body. To think of a suicide "plan" (and yes, that's what he calls it, so this implies some time spent formulating/thinking about it) before knowing the other person is definitely dead is... very morbid.
Anyways... Dramatic music in background while Edward reveals a plan that is rather laughable if you let me put it in my own words. Ready? Here goes - Edward's going to go to Italy and expose himself to the humans so that the Volturi will swoop down (FOR JUSTICE) and execute him for revealing the existence of The Sparkle Vampires. Yes, I do mean expose. Shirt-ripping off exposing. He'll probably do it at high noon too, for maximum shine and drama.
Bella (expressing her disbelief): What?
This scintillating conversation is interrupted by their professor who asks Edward for a sample of iambic pentameter. Edward looks like he's awoken from some daze. Blinks a few times. Looks scarily white in the relative darkness of the room. Like Michael Jackson.
Of course our hero does beautifully, though it was true that he was distracted. Second thing, it was totally Bella's fault, but of course, it's the professor who loses out and IN YOUR FACE MR BERTY!
I c wut u did thar, S. Meyer! The point that Edward is perfect and that he is a Byronic as well as Shakespearean romantic hero (Gag.) is masterfully driven home. Like an apt stake through the heart.
Cullen's. Edward tells Bella about the Volturi. They're basically the vampire's version of law-enforcement / Royal Family. They destroy renegade vampires, by... smushing their heads and ripping their limbs off. O-kay. And look, it's Michael Sheen as Aro! Who was a werewolf in Underworld, so the transition to vampire is delightfully ironic.
Bella tells Edward he's got to stop talking about that, but she's doesn't look too bothered by what he's saying. She can't even think about someone hurting him [she thinks he's invincible, or she doesn't like the thought of him being hurt?] - Bella looks pensive as she says this.
Edward: The only thing that can hurt me is you.
Bella says that's not true. Cue flashback of Victoria, who has lovely, lovely (sigh) red tresses. She appears to be covering her cheeks with ashes - perhaps some odd vampire ritual. Edward doesn't care much about Victoria, natch, because there's only one of her now and so many Cullens.
Bella says she could protect him if he changed her. I laugh. Yes, because only BELLA could protect Edward. Never mind Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett who have had MANY more years experience of being a vampire
Edward smile/laughs at her, as he should because she's the reason he wants to stay alive. Or technically, undead. He says he'll protect her from everything. Except his sister.
Alice perks in, squealing "It's time, it's time, it's time!"
The world as Bella knows it ends. Or, you know, her birthday celebration begins.
No, but seriously, there are too many beautiful things in the world to list, and you don't have to travel to get to them. You know the saying, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It's true.
It's really all about the mood. When I'm happy and at peace with the world, I see beautiful things everywhere - the way the sunlight breaks through the clouds, or when leaves rain to the ground after a breeze, or even the blueness of the sky.
I can see beauty in the faces of the people I meet, in the happiness in their eyes, the way they move. Beauty is everywhere, you just have to see it.
Of course, when I'm in a foul mood, I see all the terrible things in people too, but that's another post for another day... maybe.
- Mood:
blah
if ($mind == important&event) /begin blog
elseif ($mind == important&thought) /begin rant
else goto :end
[Boring byline, introduction to thought of the day] Blah, blah, blah, bleh, bleh, meh meh meh. [Recap, recap, pause after utter boredom of recap]. [Wanders off to read something more interesting] [Returns after 5 minutes] Blah, blah. Blah, blah BLAH blah. Blah! Blah, blah, *grumble*, blah, sigh. [Filler, filler, filler material]. [Sudden change in train of thought] [Conversational filler] Blah, blah, blah, wah wah wah, blah.
[Angry blah, followed by increased speed in typing] Blah, blah, BLAH, [blah morphs into a rant]. Rant, rant, rant! Whine, complain, rant, [directed anger at some other whiner], [hypocritical declaration], [hypothesis], [disturbing lack of evidence for hypothesis], [sweeping statement], Rant, rant, rant, whine. Growl, rant, blah, rant, [obligatory reach for empathy from reader] whine, whine, blah blah blah, rant.
[re-reads stuff so far] [decision to argue for opposite view, thereby demonstrating complete non-commitedness to any view] [Right. Hypocritical statements] [Winds down argument] [Insertion of "It doesn't matter in the end" mantra, not to be confused with "Why do I even bother?" mantra] Blah. blah.... blah. blahblah... blah.
[strange unrelated statement]
[insertion of song/poem to echo current state of mind] [memo to self to hate all other bloggers]
:end halt blogging
Getting to know one another
Isn't it amazing how people can bond over some shared interest? And so quickly too? You know someone all of two hours, and then suddenly it's "Can I have your number?"Point being that people can strike up friendships very easily, and it's a snap to go from being an acquaintance to being a friend. Given the right circumstances, that is. However, many people consider friends to be people who they can get along well with. It's a viable definition, but the problem with this definition is that one may find that such "friends" cannot be counted on. Why? The relationship is predicated on a vested interest in having fun, or enjoying the other person's company. If that person no longer provides this enjoyment, there is no reason to continue or maintain contact.
The downside of such friendships or whatever relationship predicated on this common love for something is that when said "something" is removed, you no longer have anything to gush over together. And your relationship is kaput because e.g.
"Ever since X gave up his hurdy-gurdy to buy an engagement ring, it hasn't been the same. We've nothing to talk about now."
But then again, relationships founded on absolutely nothing sometimes seem to thrive very long too because neither can find any reason to break it off.
Nonetheless, isn't it amazing how quickly people can bond over a shared interest?
Personally, the first time I consider someone a friend is when they do something for me that isn't out of vested interest.
The problem with relationship titles
Everyone has a title they think the other should be using on them. It doesn't always correspond with the actual title given to them by the other. Friend, best friend? Good friend? Buddy? Mate? Spouse? Significant other? Boyfriend? Lover? Someone I'm seeing not so seriously? Someone I'm seeing seriously? Acquaintance? I've always had a problem with people who balance precariously on the line between acquaintance and friend. Also, it's really an ass to refer to in conversations... "Just the other day, this person I actually don't know very well in real life and only talk to online, said..."This is a real problem. With the prevalence of social communities such as Friendster, Facebook, MySpace, etc, I find that increasingly, people are naming others as "friends" when they really are just acquaintances. I'm guilty of this as well. Of the 90 people I have listed as "friends" I think I would only consider less a third of them as my friends, these being the people who actually look out for me and worry about my welfare. People who are sincerely concerned about my life and how I'm doing.
So much easier to just substitute "friend" right? Despite it not being completely true. By the way, I happen to know quite a few people only via conversations conducted electronically, so please do not think I am refering to ANY OF YOU. SPECIFICALLY.
(Some people get very funny about not being considered a friend after knowing me all of two hours. Funny in an upset way. I mean, I like y'all, I really do, but we're just not there yet, you know? Maybe we're moving too fast? Should we reconsider our relationship?)
I'm not making a very coherent discussion here, but it's hard to think because of the heat, right now. Suffice it to say, an acquaintance is someone who'd spot you a dollar if you needed it, but a friend is someone who'd give you their last dollar even if it meant they would go hungry. You stop becoming an acquaintance and become a friend the moment you're involved in my life because you care about me - otherwise, you're just an acquaintance.
Unfortunately, friendship is a two-way street, so it also means that I have to like you in order for you to be a friend. If you cared about me but I hated your guts, well...
Let's say "acquaintance" would be a step above what other possible titles I would give.
She may be the face I can't forget
The trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song the summer sings
May be the chill the autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day
She may be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell
She may be the mirror of my dreams
The smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem inside her shell
She who always seems so happy in a crowd
Whose eyes can be so crowded and so proud
No one's allowed to see them when they cry
She may be the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows of the past
But I'll remember till the day I die
She may be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I'm alive
The one I'll care for through the rough in many years
Me, I'll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be
The meaning of my life is she
No, seriously, you guys. I'm evil! Why won't you believe me?
It totally counts even if it's just an avatar!
This is what happens when you listen to your Ipod at work.
What kind of weird question is this?
I don't have writer's block, to be honest. I just rarely have the time to write, and the only reason I'm writing now is because I have marker's apathy.
I am a carrot. Not going to explain it.
UPDATED for 2008
- How am I feeling today?:
It's my life by Bon Jovi
-Will I get far in life?:
I melt with you (Jason Mraz)
- How do my friends see me?:
Thank You For Loving Me (Bon Jovi)
- Where will I get Married?:
Walk on by (Dionne Warwick)
- What is my best friend's theme song?:
Anyone of us (Gareth Gates)
- What is the story of my life?:
My Way/A Mi Manera(Robin Williams)
- What is/was highschool like?:
In the Waiting Line (Zero 7)
- How can I get ahead in life?
Yesterday (Beatles)
- What is the best thing about me?:
These Walls (Dream Theatre)
- How is today going to be?:
Birthday Dethday (Dethklok)
Okaaaaayyyyy....
- What is in store for this weekend?:
She (Elvis Costello)
- What song describes my parents?:
Out of my head (Fastball)
- To describe my grandparents?
What the world needs now (Carpenters)
-How is my life going?:
Promise me, you'll wait for me (Beverly Craven)
- What song will they play at my funeral?:
Feed My Frankenstein (Alice Cooper)
OH YEAAAAH.
- How does the world see me?:
Love at First Sight (Kylie Minogue)
-Will I have a Happy Life?:
Candle on the Water
- What do my friends really think of me?:
Don't call me Baby (Madison Avenue)
- Do people secretly lust after me?:
Words (Tracy Chapman)
- How can I make myself happy?:
Daria (Cake)
- What should I do with my life?:
Invincible (OK Go)
- Will I ever have children?:
Never on a sunday (Pink Martini)
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
- What is some good advice for me?:
Alone (Bee Gees)
- How Will I be remembered?:
Halo Theme Song
- What is my signature dancing song?:
Spiderwebs (No Doubt)
- What do I think my current theme song is?:
Born Free (Frank Sinatra)
- What does everyone else think my current themesong is?:
Feed the Cats (Electrico)
- What type of men/women do you like?:
The Batman Theme (The Edge)
- Mood:
bored
If you ask, I'll answer.
The ESE people are going back to NIE tmr. I'll miss them... I mean, bugger it. I think I spend more time with them than the other practicum teachers!
"Hi, can I buy you a drink?"
"您说什么?"
(In typical fashion, he speaks louder and slower, thinking she can understand better that way.)
"Can-I-buy-you-a-drink?"
"一晚六十块。(Gestures 6 with fingers)" (This bit was contributed by Thomas, I think.)
"What? 6?"
"六十! (Gestures again)"
"Isn't that too many drinks for someone your size? How about just one drink? (Gestures 1)"
"不是!六十!六十!十块不够!(shakes head angrily while gestures with 6 fingers)"
"Look, I don't understand! Why do you... Oh, never mind. (walks off)"
It's funnier when you're there, of course. Oh well.
- How am I feeling today?:
Colin Raye: Love me
(Uh, okay...)
-Will I get far in life?:
Darren Hayes: I miss you
(I don't understand)
- How do my friends see me?:
Cover Girls: Wishing on a star
(So, does that mean I'm a dreamer? Wait! Why are all the songs love songs?)
- Where will I get Married?:
Mozart - Lacrimosa
(Um. This is a funeral march. I don't have a good feeling about this.)
- What is my best friend's theme song?:
Jason Mraz - Geek in the Pink
(Hee, hee. Depends on which one you're referring to)
- What is the story of my life?:
Jet - Look what you've done.
(Oh dear.)
- What is/was highschool like?:
Jackie Chan - Endless love
(So not.)
- How can I get ahead in life?
Antonio Banderas - Spanish Guitar
(Righto. It's a life in the hills for me.)
- What is the best thing about me?:
Eros Ramazzotti - Calma Apparente.
(Apparent Calmness. Ok. Great.)
- How is today going to be?:
Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
(Aiyaaah.)
- What is in store for this weekend?:
Erasure - Sometimes
(Sometimes... it's the broken heart that desires?)
- What song describes my parents?:
Dave brubeck quartet - A foggy Day.
(HUH???)
- To describe my grandparents?
Kylie Minogue - Come into my world
(This quiz is stupid.)
-How is my life going?:
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi - 6 Banme No Eki
(Curse these foriegn songs. How am I supposed to understand??!)
(It means 6th Station. What's that supposed to mean?!)
- What song will they play at my funeral?:
Zero 7 - Destiny
(Ah, that's nice.)
- How does the world see me?:
Sugar Ray - Abracadabra
(BWHAHAHAHAHAHA)
-Will I have a Happy Life?:
Dionne Warwick - Walk on by.
(So, that's a no?)
- What do my friends really think of me?:
Goo goo doll - Give a little bit.
(Ho ho... Give a little bit of your love to me.)
- Do people secretly lust after me?:
Frank Sinatra - Have yourself a merry little christmas
(Doesn't tell me anything.)
- How can I make myself happy?:
Chubby Checker - Let's Twist.
(You've got to be kidding.)
- What should I do with my life?:
Radiohead - There There
(We're accidents waiting to happen.)
- Will I ever have children?:
I'm skipping this because the answer is weird and just isn't an answer.
- What is some good advice for me?:
Uncle Cracker - Drift Away
(Sigh.)
- How Will I be remembered?:
Barenaked Ladies - Old apartment
(That's all? This is not a nice memory song.)
- What is my signature dancing song?:
Toni Braxton - Spanish Guitar
(Not to be confused with Antonio Banderas)
- What do I think my current theme song is?:
N'sync - Tearing up my heart
(Oh well. It's a good theme song if nothing else.)
- What does everyone else think my current themesong is?:
Don Moen - God will make a way.
(Okay... That's nice to know.)
- What type of men/women do you like?:
Corrine May - Free
(Free people. Yes. Sounds nice to me.)
And for the daily bread...
2 Corinthians 1:3-11
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
It's very encouraging to know when you feel like you're under fire - that God will eventually deliver you from your tribulations, and that there will be others around who will comfort you. It enforces my belief that our God is a loving God who doesn't want us to suffer. Unnecessarily.
I'm not sure what I'm getting at, but everyone's gone through stress, trial, pain before, and the fact that we're still here, still able to support one another, still sane - it speaks for something. It is by His grace that we don't collapse completely, don't break down.
This makes me very grateful. Especially after a rather emotionally bumpy one-and-a-half year portion of my life. I am in awe of the peace I can feel now and the fact I can smile and laugh and trust again when just 6, 7 months ago, I was so depressed I would cry to myself at night.
I'm pretty sure it was only with Him that I survived. Did not withdraw, did not collapse, did not totally break down. I've not forgotten the pain, but it no longer haunts me. So thank you, Lord for all You've done in my life and everyone You've blessed me with. Thank You for Your comfort and strength.
You remember the children you got that you did not get,
The damp small pulps with a little or with no hair,
The singers and workers that never handled the air.
You will never neglect or beat
Them, or silence or buy with a sweet.
You will never wind up the sucking-thumb
Or scuttle off ghosts that come.
You will never leave them, controlling your luscious sigh,
Return for a snack of them, with gobbling mother-eye.
I have heard in the voices of the wind the voices of my dim killed
children.
I have contracted. I have eased
My dim dears at the breasts they could never suck.
I have said, Sweets, if I sinned, if I seized
Your luck
And your lives from your unfinished reach,
If I stole your births and your names,
Your straight baby tears and your games,
Your stilted or lovely loves, your tumults, your marriages, aches,
and your deaths,
If I poisoned the beginnings of your breaths,
Believe that even in my deliberateness I was not deliberate.
Though why should I whine,
Whine that the crime was other than mine?--
Since anyhow you are dead.
Or rather, or instead,
You were never made.
But that too, I am afraid,
Is faulty: oh, what shall I say, how is the truth to be said?
You were born, you had body, you died.
It is just that you never giggled or planned or cried.
Believe me, I loved you all.
Believe me, I knew you, though faintly, and I loved, I loved you
All.
-Gwendolyn Brooks
Did this poem in Literature class today for "New Criticism" and I have to say... it touched me. I quite like her other poems too. Perhaps it's because they seem to be in the style that I write my more whimsical pieces...
