As someone who was completely obsessed with reading from a young age, I went through many series in elementary and middle school. However, there are three Dystopian trilogies that I call the Big Three: The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner. All are iconic in their own ways, and each offers their own unique world and story line that will captivate you throughout the entirety of the series. However, for me, The Hunger Games will always take the cake as my favorite. In honor of the newest book coming out in a few weeks, featuring the story of Haymitch, I have decided to give my take on why this is the best trilogy. The distinctive world created provides readers with the realities of a world that has gone off the edge. Just the concept of the story is so incredibly creative and twisted that you cannot help but be hooked. The strength and determination of Katniss is inspiring as to how one small thing can spark so much change. Never once was I bored reading it, and the ending left me sobbing on my floor, because Gale, you were in fact the issue. Suzanne Collins was able to create one of the most notable and epic stories in just 1,155 pages.

Now, for the actual logistics as to why this series is superior. First of all, Katniss – the girl on fire – is an inspiration to all, and her selflessness is incredibly admirable. I mean, she offered to go off to the Games to die so that her sister would not have to. Then, in the Games, she helped Rue and became her ally so that Rue had a better chance. I am very convinced that had the Games ended with just her and Rue, she would have let Rue win, which again goes to show her selflessness. In Catching Fire, she did everything in her power to make sure that Peeta had the best chance to get out of the Games, even though she knew that she would die because of it. She made allies with Finnick and Johanna, even though she didn’t want to, just so that Peeta was protected and had the possibility of making it out alive. She never once put herself above others and did everything for the good of her family, Peeta, and Panem. Also, she is one of the strongest characters in a book that I have ever read. She totally could have shot Peeta and won, however she instead decided that they would both make it out, or neither of them would make it out. Maybe she doesn’t have the greatest decision making skills, but our girl is only 16, so let’s give her a little bit of a break. She also sends a message to the President of Panem who is responsible for all of the atrocities that those in the districts face, and the Hunger Games themselves, that “if we burn, you burn with us.” Chills. You cannot get much more direct than that. And let us not forget one of the most important facts: that is she is wicked with a bow and arrow. I mean her speed and accuracy could probably only be matched by the Turkish shooter from the Olympics. So how can you not love her?

The next matter to discuss is that of Peeta Mellark – Lover Boy. Selfless from the beginning, Peeta is one of the best love interests that there ever was. From the minute that he is introduced, it’s bye bye Gale. I mean this man took a beating because he threw bread he had purposefully burnt to Katniss when she didn’t have anything else to eat. He too tried everything to make sure that Katniss made it out of both Games. Another thing that cannot be overlooked is how incredible this man is with his one-liners. “If it weren’t for the baby”, we see you Peeta. He was so down-bad for Katniss that he tried absolutely everything to protect her, even though she made it clear that their relationship was only for show. There is one matter that might need to be discussed, and that is him trying to strangle her after coming back from the capital, but HE HAD BEEN BRAINWASHED. So, I think that we will overlook it. It wasn’t his fault. We saw his process of healing, and he even offered to remain hand-cuffed so that he wouldn’t accidentally hurt someone else during their infiltration of the capital. So selfless. And so much better than Gale. Because Peeta may have been brainwashed, but at least he didn’t lucidly decide to drop bombs on the innocent people of the Capital, killing Prim in the process. Gale, that was not a smart decision, I must say. You cannot read the series and not be in love with Peeta in the end, because he’s just hopelessly in love with a girl, and we cannot fault that.

And then there is Finnick, and I feel like I don’t even have to explain this one, because – Finnick. It does not get much better than Finnick Odair. That is one death that I will never get over in my entire life.

It is for these reasons that The Hunger Games will always hold a special place in my heart. From a whistle that nobody will ever forget, to an iconic pin, this series will forever be one of the best trilogies ever written.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

I recently rediscovered an amazing series that NPR music runs: Tiny Desk Concerts. Basically, NPR invites different musical artists to perform a short show live in a small office space. A wide range of people/groups have performed one, from superstars to obscure artists. I really enjoy these because you get to appreciate the natural talent of many big artists that often perform concerts on a much larger scale with more bells and whistles. There are also many smaller artists and bands that perform in Tiny Desk Concerts. There are so many great performances that more people should know about, so I encourage you to look up some of your favorite artists or bands to see if they have done a Tiny Desk Concert.

Some I recommend:

• Lizzy McAlpine
• Daniel Caesar
• Lake Street Dive
• Billie Eilish
• Harry Styles
• Leon Thomas
• Taylor Swift
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Spillage Village
• Tyler, The Creator
• Adele

 

 

 

 

 

As the warm weather approaches, I have been thinking about all of the springtime activities I am looking forward to. I highly recommend these if you’re ever looking for something to do outside.

1. Driving around – Specifically at night, but any time of day works too. There’s something about blasting music with the windows down that just reinstills life in me.
2. Late-night walks – There is truly no better feeling than a warm breeze at night. Wander around with friends, walk a dog, listen to a podcast, or just reflect by yourself.
3. Hammocking – All you need is a couple trees and a hammock. Hammock naps are top-tier, but I also recommend reading, listening to music, or doubling up with a friend for a chat.
4. Outdoor sports – I am so sick of running in the cold ice and snow. I also wish I didn’t have to bring a million layers to school every day for track practice. I can’t wait for sunny, warmer practices where I can just wear a shirt and shorts. I also hate doing sports indoors, like indoor field hockey, and can’t wait to get on the turf again.
5. Laying in the sun – I know it sounds simple, but the feeling of the sun warming your skin is one of my favorite feelings ever. We are all lacking vitamin D at this time of year, so as soon as it is warm enough, grab a blanket or a chair and go get some sun. Trust me.

The third quarter stress has been cracking down on everyone, and thinking of these things gives me motivation to keep going. I hope that I have inspired you to think of something to take the stress off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impatiens

5/10

Nice colors, but a very plain flower pattern. I feel like most moms have these in their gardens and are obsessed with them for some reason. Really, they aren’t that special.

 

 

 

 

 

Daffodil

8/10

Daffodils are awesome! They have always reminded me of a trumpet for obvious reasons. However, I will deduct points for the pollen they get on you when you smell them. They don’t smell that amazing anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

Dandelion (yes, it’s not a true flower, but I’m including it anyway)

5/10

These weeds pop up in your lawn every spring. They’re the same color every year, but the pattern with all the petals that look like straight strips are fun to look at! Can’t say that these weeds are good for other plants, though, considering that they are indeed weeds.

 

 

 

 

 

Daisies

3/10

The phrase “fresh as a daisy” was really written poorly. There are a myriad of more interesting flowers to have expressions for: roses, tulips, marigolds, and so on. This is undoubtedly the most boring flower in spring. Nice to look at for a second, but other flowers maybe have more going for them. Truly, the vanilla of the flower world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tulips

7/10

THAT is more like it. These flowers have a fun cone shape to them, and have massive petals. While mostly red, they can be yellow, pink, and orange as well. Additionally, in red tulips, there is yellow in the inner petals to make it look more interesting. However, bees and pollen are a hazard when it comes to this flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilac

10/10

Nothing to say here. Absolute king of flowers. No contest.

(The only other flower I would say comes close are roses, but they do not last as long, and there are less of them).

Like my previous blog, I want to continue to show other people (most likely my fellow interns completing their blog responses) about my love for sports! While most people I know enjoy football or basketball the most, my favorite sport is lacrosse. There are a plethora of reasons why lacrosse is my favorite sport and unfortunately for you non-sports fans, I’m about to go on a long-winded rant. 

The first thing that came to my mind was the energy and emotion it fills me with. Our first game is weeks away but the anticipation that has been building in me has made me jittery and light-headed. Throughout the day, I think about suiting up in my bulky pads, lacing my white cleats, and dragging the thick, pasty, eye black under my eyes. Also, there are so, so many moments where your adrenaline is just pumping and you can’t hold in your excitement. This includes invigorating pre-game speeches from coaches and captains, wild goal celebrations where the roar of the team is heard across the turf, and the moment at the end of the game when the time runs out and the whole team dog-piles the goalie in celebration. 

Specifically, I play LSM (Long Stick Midfielder) and Close Defense, so although I am not often assisting teammates or getting the glory of scoring, I get to be an enforcer. I run around with a six-foot carbon fiber stick and a hard plastic head where I whack my opponents in the arms with the hopes that they lose the lacrosse ball. I definitely recommend this as a way to relieve stress! I know how amazing this sounds, but this isn’t even my favorite part. The thing I enjoy most is throwing a can opener, or overhead check. A can opener involves putting the head of your stick between the gap where your opponent’s hands lie on their stick and lifting up. The consequence of this is usually a stick flying in the air and a ball rolling around on the turf.  An overhead check involves the defender leaping up in the air bringing their pole over the head of their opponent and violently throwing the shaft down on the head of their opponent’s stick to dislodge the ball. I know these explanations are confusing so here are some highlights of pro players throwing those checks.

Lacrosse Can Opener Check

Over the Head Checks Pt. 2 – Men’s Lacrosse Defense

I also forgot to mention how fun it is to beat your rivals. Last season we played our rival school US (University School) at home while it was raining. Also, some of our recent alumni were there to support us and chirp the Preppers, the name of US’s mascot. While we hadn’t beaten them in over 20 years, we knew this year was our year. This also includes my coaches who played D1 lacrosse at Fairfield and Binghamton. Everyone wanted their payback. Looking back at the game, I believe this was the hardest we played all season. We cleaned up all of our sloppy mistakes and never took our foot off the gas. While the game was extremely low-scoring and we won by a small margin, it was the most exciting game I have ever played and witnessed. Every goal for us was an eruption of crowd noise I had never heard before and the hairs on my arms were standing up. Yes, I know how cliche this sounds, but I am not exaggerating. Even when our opponents dropped a pass or lost a fight in a ground ball, we were all cheering. When the game was over we rushed our goalie and all jumped into a pile. I remember screaming until my voice hurt, shoving teammates, and slamming helmets.

While some people find pleasure in flipping pages, others relaxing under the rays of the sun, I love to have my arms covered in bruises and my knees with scabs.

 

Even though it’s after valentines day,  I am providing you with a collection of the cringiest moments from “the rom-com” – Notting Hill. It’s your classic boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back romance. Not to mention, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are the respective king and queen of rom-coms considering they have a combined 30 rom-coms under their belts. 

Starting off strong with the most popular quote from the movie; “I’m really just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her”. Anna (Julia Roberts) says this out of desperation to William (Hugh Grant), and not to spoil the movie or anything, but he rejects her at that moment. She laid her heart out just for him to run it over, and that’s just embarrassing. But wait there’s more. William made a mistake, he wants her back. The only way that he would be able to see her before she leaves would be for him to crash her press conference and declare his love. So he does, and she accepts him and they just smile at each other for an incredibly long time while everyone around them is just taking pictures. 

However, the worst part of the entire movie is when William has to act as if he belongs to a magazine, and the one he picks is Horse & Hound. The entire scene is nothing but random questions that Will asks Anna and embarrassingly connects back to horses in the end. To make it worse, he has to interview other members of the cast and his questions get progressively worse. It’s embarrassing for everyone involved, including the audience. It;s fine in the end though, he gets a second date out of the whole ordeal. 

Also, William failed to climb a fence. Multiple times. It was a moment.

Suffice to say, it’s a good movie. Though it has its embarrassing moments, it’s entertaining and a good watch. I do recommend it despite the content of this blog. So, if you’re ever looking for a movie to watch and if you’re in the mood for a new rom-com, I suggest Notting Hill. 

 

 

 

 

Chances are you’ve seen at least one of duology known as Mamma Mia, and chances are it’s provoked some type of emotion in you. I’ve been reduced to tears every time I’ve watched either of these movies, which coming from me means something, as I generally cry on average three times a year. So what makes this movie so moving?

To begin, we have an incredibly talented cast. 

Meryl Streep’s showstopping performance is truly the cherry on top of an all-rounded performance. I consider her rendition of “The Winner Takes It All” a modern musical masterpiece, as her raw emotion and heartbreak are transmitted throughout the entire song. I could hear Pierce Brosnan’s ego shatter as she poured her heart out. You’re transported to that little hill with the church on Kalokari, urging Meryl to run away from him.

Furthermore, Sophie and Donna’s relationship is the main focus of the entire film, with their emotional ups and downs provoking anguish in the viewers’ hearts. They’re as close as mother and daughter can be, reminding me of my relationship with my mother.  Every time I watch this movie with my mother, I’m reminded of my childhood growing up with my mom; her bringing chocolate milk to my room, dressing me and my sister up in matching outfits, and kissing us goodbye as we made our way to school. These feelings of nostalgia and melancholiness fill me,  and I usually look at my mother with my eyes shining with tears.

Finally, the nostalgia of the Swedish band ABBA helps convey the beautiful story of mother and daughter maturing. I have to give credit where credit is due to the actors’ magnificent performances, but it wouldn’t be possible without the masterfully composed lyrics of ABBA’s songs. They tell a story of coming-of-age, loss, and heartbreak, and this story reaches the audience’s heart and pulls them into the movie. 

Therefore, this movie is one of a kind, made to evoke emotion and move the audience. I’ve never watched a movie like this before, and I will never tire of rewatching it. 

I am an overall very happy person. This is not because I fail to see the miserable or am blind to the awful, but instead, because I find great joy in a multitude of tiny things. There are a plethora of things that contribute to my happiness, all of which alone can be seen as mundane. Here is my ode to some mundane that makes me happy.

Yogi Bites

I first tasted the heaven that is Yogi Bites on the way to a Field Hockey game. I am forever grateful to my friend who generously introduced me to the best snack ever. Slightly smaller than blueberries, Yogi Bites are the perfect snack, similar to fruit ropes textured fruit bites covered in yogurt. I now have them before every sports competition and smile every time I open the pink packaging.

 

Duolingo

I log into Duolingo every night before bed. It used to be about learning Mandarin, but I am now fueled entirely by the streak. I keep that owl’s fire well-lit and plan to for a long time. 我愛duolingo. 謝謝

Fast & Furious

Two weeks ago, in a moment of procrastination, I decided to watch The Fast & The Furious (not to be confused with Fast & Furious which is the third movie). I was expecting to turn it off after ten minutes and get back to work, but I fell into a rabbit hole. There are 10 Fast & Furious movies, and I love all of them. I have watched 6/10, and yes, they indeed get worse every time. But I DON’T CARE. I need to know what happens to Dom Toretto, Mia Toretto, Brian O’Connor, Ludacris, the whole family. I will watch those cars drift for hours.

 

Funky Socks

I started my funky sock collection at age 6. Until middle school, I only owned funky socks. Some days, I struggle to get out of bed and pick my outfit, but I just go over to my ever-growing pile of funky socks and they make the day just a bit better. At the moment I am wearing my Beatles socks, which are decorated with yellow submarines. Yesterday for my swim meet, I went with scuba diving cows and hula sharks.

My Dog’s Special Valentine’s Day Bib ( not pictured)

Penelope Justine Timberlake Weingart is my 2-year-old bernadoodle. Being a mix of a Poodle and Burmese Mountain Dog, she is nearly 80 pounds of fluff and when on her hind legs is the same height as me. She recently got a haircut, and now struts around the house in a beautiful pink bib covered in tiny hearts. I may not have had a boo-thang this Valentine’s Day, but who needs one when Penelope exists.

Garmin Connect

You will rarely see me without my watch. It is waterproof and the charge lasts for days, so I take it off only to charge, for big races, or when I am taking notes. I changed the band to white and wore it to homecoming. In the summer, my tan-line is atrocious. Similar to Duolingo, I feel at peace by checking my Garmin Connect. I constantly am striving to get the monthly badges and competitions.

 

Pop Tabs

My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Flynn, was a very competitive person. So when we had a school-wide competition to collect pop-tabs for Ronald McDonald house, she planned to win. Ever since then, I subconsciously take the pop tab off my soda cans. they are littered in all my pockets, and I have a jar sitting in my room. My friends all hand them to me their drinks. You will always know if I am at a team dinner or social function because there is a wake of cans with stolen tabs. I love this little Tchink! it makes when I pull it off.

 

Texts and Alarms

Not a small portion of my weekly screen time goes to the clock app. I am an AVID user of the timer. I set timers for nearly everything: Naps, homework, breaks, crafting. Anytime someone is thinking of you is pleasant, but when my friend sent me this text, I nearly died of happiness.

The Incline at the Bottom of  a Pool

I saved the most poetic for last. I have swam competitively for 12 years. Yesterday I swam my last swim minute, and Friday, I went to my last ever swim practice. yes, swimming is a draining sport, but I did it because I loved it. Countless things are mundane about swimming that I could include in this list: dolphin dives, towel pants, dolphin ugly suits, Christmas caps, starts and turns, social kicks, new tech suits, bucket turns, etc. But my favorite is the incline at the bottom of the pool.

At the end of practice, whether it was 30 mins or 2 1/2 hours, there is always a cool-down swim of at least 200 yards. On the last lap, I would take a deep breath, swim down following the incline, and push off underwater looking up at the ceiling. Call it habit, call it ritual, I loved it. I become 6 again, playing mermaids and doing handstand contests. I may not miss the doubles or 3-hour practices or miss send-offs, but I will miss the incline at the bottom of a pool.

Anyways fam, that’s me. I have thousands of other tiny things that make me happy, but atm, these are the best. Next time you are in a bad mood, think about your favorite snack or movie, or a funny text your friend sent. I may be stressed from school or college, but it’s fine if Fast & Furious exists.

     If you like the insane, obscene, and LGBTQ, boy do I have recommendations for you! I have many more favorites, but here are a few that everyone should read. I included how long each book is and how long it took me to read to show how obsessed I became with each one.

 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsen Muir: Lesbian space necromancers and cavaliers. Need I say more? I cried like a baby reading this book. I’m still grieving so I can’t say much more about it or I will start crying again. Read it!

496 pages. Read in 5 days. 

 

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami: If you’ve read anything by Murakami, you know that the oedipal prophecies, old men who talk to cats, and mysteries of collapsing children are all to be expected. This book is honestly so complex and impossible to explain you just have to read it and try to make sense of it yourself. 

467 pages. Read in 7 days.

 

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima: A sailor, Ryuji, falls in love with the single mother of an amoral 13-year-old, who originally adores Ryuji, but begins to despise him as the novel progresses. Things escalate from there. 

181 pages. Read in 5 days.

 

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis: A dark comedic play depicting Judas’ court case, with testimonies from Sigmund Freud, Mother Teresa, Satan, and Jesus. Caused a bit of existential dread for me, but the good kind. I cried.

128 pages. Read in 1 sitting.

 

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare: Don’t be intimidated because Shakespeare wrote it. Willy’s plays are actually really entertaining! If you’ve seen the 2006 RomCom Shes the Man, you know the basic plot, but the original text is infinitely crazier. Twelfth Night follows a shipwrecked Viola looking for her twin Sebastian. She takes a sailor’s clothes and the name Cesario, then begins to work under Count Orsino. Confusion ensues. A grieving Olivia falls in love with Cesario, and so does Orsino (bisexual king!), while Viola desperately (and unsuccessfully) tries to prevent herself from falling in love with Orsino. As it’s Shakespeare, there are many more entertaining subplots. The play is hilarious. Don’t read this one though — watch a recording.

120 pages. Read in 3 days.

 

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever: Two young men become obsessed with each other in the most toxic situationship you’ll ever see (murder is involved). As the GoodReads synopsis says, “These Violent Delights is a novel of escalating dread and an excavation of the unsettling depths of human desire”. This book is violent and electric and so so good.

480 pages. Read in 1 sitting on a plane. 

 

If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Sappho and translated by Anne Carson: A collection of all remaining fragments of Sappho’s work. Translations are paired with the original Greek. SO GOOD!!!

208 pages. Read in 1 day.

 

Bonus: Currently reading

As Meat Loves Salt: Set in 1630s England, a deeply disturbed 20-something joins the army after making horrible choices back home. 

The other day, it occurred to me that my school year has been categorized based on what game I was playing at a given time. Since these games are an essential part of my school day, I thought I’d give some brief thoughts on each one.

 

Tetris: 8.2/10

• Not much of a learning curve.
• Can be really satisfying (unless you’re Vivian)
• Can be a little stressful.

 

Papa’s games: 12/10

• Incredible
• Nostalgic
• Will always be on top

 

Sudoku: 8/10

• A plethora of puzzles are available at all times with a wide range of difficulties depending on how fried your brain feels.
• Gets a little repetitive though.

 

NYT games: 9/10

• A good variety of unique entertainment.
• My one gripe is that there’s only one puzzle a day for the Mini, Connections, etc.

 

Minesweeper: 7/10

• Weird learning curve
• Honestly the most mind-numbing for me which can be good or boring.

 

Solitaire: 8.6/10

• I’m biased because I love card games, Solitaire is a good one.
• Can get on my nerves.

 

Chess: 1/10

• This is a me problem
• I’d probably like it more if I had any idea how to actually play.

 

Airport rush: 7.4/10

• I wish it didn’t start off so slowly, but this one’s fun.
• Not suitable for those with heart issues.

 

Overall, these games have been an important part of my school year. Sometimes they entertain me, and sometimes they’re incredibly distracting – in any case, I’m somewhat grateful for their existence.