Unfortunate happenings

So, I'm afraid I won't be able to put up a proper post today, because my camera is acting up. Every time I turn it on it says "Battery Exhausted". I even tried changing the batteries, but it still didn't work. I had a really good idea for a post, too, so I'm fairly disappointed.

I will do my best to get it working by tomorrow.
-Morgan

Cards, cards, everywhere!

So, I wasn't really sure what to take a picture of today. All I did was go to school (which I'm sure you don't want to hear about) and go to musical rehearsal (which I've already talked about). So, I was a bit stumped. I thought about taking pictures of many different things, but then I remembered something I mentioned in my first post...

45 decks pictured. I actually have 48 overall. I know. I counted.

Bet you didn't really believe I collected decks of cards, did you? I don't remember exactly when I started collecting them, but I know that it has been a few years and I've definitely collected some interesting ones in my time. My mom enjoys going to Las Vegas, so every time she brings me back decks from a few different hotels. I have a couple decks from my grandmother from when she went to England. I have a Yogi Bear deck (bottom row, third from the right), Chris Angel deck (middle deck, second from the left), a Spanish deck (fourth row down, fourth from the left) that only has 40 cards, a deck all about lures of the past (bottom row, fifth from the left), and many others.

I think one of the reasons I like collecting card decks so much is because despite the fact that all of them have different backs, they are all still similar on the front (excluding the Spanish deck). I can use every single one of those decks (excluding Spanish one) for the same games, and yet they look so different. I don't know. Cards/Card games have always been a bit fascinating to me.

Yay for being a card nerd!

Until next time,

-Morgan

Reading The Aeneid

At my high school (I fell like many of my posts are going to start with something about my high school...), I have been taking Latin since I was a freshman. Now I'm in Latin IV and we are currently reading Vergil's The Aeneid.

Just some burning cities, no big deal.

For those who don't know, The Aeneid is an epic about this guy called Aeneas, son of Venus, survivor of the Trojan War and founder of what would one day become Rome. It tells of his seven year journey to Carthage, the underworld, and many other places, and finally to Italy, where he,  as I'm sure you guessed, founded Rome.

We're supposed to have the first two books (aka: chapters) read by tomorrow and I've only read the first one so far (No worries, I'm going to read the second one after I finish this). We actually have a quiz to take over the first two books tomorrow, even though I will be the only person in class. It's definitely going to be an interesting class period tomorrow!

Anyway, so far I've actually enjoyed reading it. Some people find it a bit difficult to read this because of how it's written or whatever, but I actually really like it. It takes a bit more thought than most modern books, but it's still enjoyable. To make sure I'm understanding what I'm reading, after every paragraph or so, I go over what just happened in my own words (so, for example:  "Aeneas stood there resplendent in the bright light of day with the head and shoulders of a god. His own mother had...given beauty to his hair and the sparkle of joy to his eyes, and the glow of youth shone all about him." (1.588-591) translates to "He was really hot."). It's a really useful tool to make sure I'm remembering everything. Plus, sometimes it's funny to think about what the text would have looked like, had it been written in modern times. It also helps that I'm actually fairly interested in mythology, so this tends to keep my interest.

Anyway, short post tonight.

Have a wonderful day!

-Morgan

Set Painting, Dress Buying, and Bread Stick Eating

I had a fairly fun-filled day today. This morning I went to my school to help paint sets for the musical. It turned out to be quite fun. There were about 8 other students there along with our director and the art teacher. The director even put her iPod on over the speakers in the auditorium and we all had fun with it (At one point I was up on a ladder, painting a wall, and I made a 'I'm getting high' joke and proceeded to laugh at my own genius...because I was on a ladder. Like, I was high up? Oh forget it.).

After set painting was over, I went home to take a shower and get ready to go dress shopping with my friend and her boyfriend. Before I went, my mom and I looked on the website to see what dresses they had and picked one out a head of time. When my friend and I got there (her boyfriend went to a different store) I instantly went to find the dress, only to find that it was in a size that I thought would probably be too big. I kept looking for other dresses for a bit, but I couldn't tear myself away from that one. I quickly snatched it up to try it on in the dressing room and, what do you know, it fit! I had to wait for my friend to figure out which dress/size she was getting she which ended up as this neon pink monstrosity that I personally would never wear, but I know she loves. As for my dress, however, I went with a color that was a bit more subtle...

Wedding dress? What wedding dress?

I can honestly say that I am absolutely thrilled that I got the dress I wanted and I just love it to pieces (thankfully not literally). Everyone who's seen it has said it looks like a wedding dress, which I'm completely fine with. Honestly, even without a date to prom, I feel like a bride when i wear it.

After we bought our dresses, we headed of to Fazoli's for supper. As usual (which, unfortunately isn't that usual) it was amazing. I had the Baked Ravioli Florentine, which consisted of cheese ravioli, chicken, spinach, and Alfredo sauce, and was absolutely to die for. Not to mention the bread sticks! Crazy delicious, as always (I tend to give Fazoli's a good review when I get to go, have you noticed?).

After our wonderful day, the three of us went back to my house and watched he's just not that into you which is currently one of my favorite movies. They didn't leave until 11:30, which is one of the reasons I didn't get this post up until after midnight (So, whether or not it says it was posted on the eleventh, we're just going to count this one as my post for the tenth, okay?).

I wish more days were like this. It was very peaceful.
-Morgan

How to rock the pit without really trying

At my high school, the Drama department performs a Fall Play and a Spring Musical every year. This year's musical (in case you hadn't figured it out by the title) is How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. 

Every year, since I was a sophomore, I've auditioned for every play and musical. I've only gotten a couple parts (i.e. "The Radical"/Chorus Member in Wonderful Town and Ms. Lynch in Grease), but I am usually still very involved in every production. The only one I wasn't really involved in was last year's play The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, when I was asked to be the drama dirge (I think that's what it was called) and look up information about things in the play in case one of the actors had a question. Honestly, I ended up not doing anything, although, somehow I was still allowed at the cast party. Other times I didn't get a part I helped out with make-up, which was my job for our most recent play (Don't Drink the Water). For the musical this year, I auditioned again. The next day, before the cast list was up, my choir teacher approached me and told me that I had a choice of either being a chorus member or playing violin on the synthesizer in the pit. It took me a minute to think about it, but I answered pit, and I haven't looked back since. 

Isn't she a beauty? 

As much as I enjoy being up on stage, I've found that I almost prefer being down in front of it more. Our pit isn't exactly big (which I'm sure you figured out when I said I'd be playing violin on the synthesizer), but it's still a joy to be a part of. There are four of us (piano, drums, bass, synth), plus the choir directer that directs us and we all get along wonderfully. I find myself laughing much more often than I would've had I just been a part of the cast. The way I see it, being in the pit means I don't have to wear a crap-ton of makeup (I always hated that part of acting), I don't have to worry about a costume (except for the outfit I will wear three days in a row), and I get to see the play (excluding musical numbers when I'm playing) for free! I even got a musical t-shirt for free because I was in the pit. Not to mention, since it's a violin part, and therefore only requires one of my hands, the music is pretty easy.

Basically, as much as I love acting, there's probably a good chance I'm going to stick with the Pit Orchestra (oh, look, the official name!), probably even into college. Hopefully when I get to college, though, I'll be playing either piano or clarinet instead of "violin on synthesizer".

Hey, at least I got free pizza tonight.

-Morgan

Hello!

Hello! My name is Morgan, and welcome to my newest blog! Basically, the idea for this blog is for me to take a picture of something or someone everyday and put up a post with it, along with a description about it, a story behind it, anything that has to do with it really! (And, yes, I'm aware that many of you probably rolled your eyes at the un-originality of this blog. Oh well!) This blog is hopefully going to function in two ways. 1) Help me post to a blog more often, since it requires at least a once a day post and 2) Take my camera with me and actually take more picture, since it requires a picture at least once a day.

As for my first photo....

Look at that double chin! How gorgeous is that?!

It's me! So, here's a little introduction to me. Hopefully, I won't go into any boring details.

My name is Morgan, I'm 17 years old, and I live in a small town (population: 9,000-ish) in Illinois. I've lived here all of my life, so I'm really looking forward to going to a new place for college next year. I plan on majoring in Psychology and minoring in either Criminal Justice or Music (or both!). I am literally always reading a book. Seriously, if I'm not in the middle of a book, I freak out. (I've actually gotten in trouble in class before for reading!). When I was younger I dabbled in magic, cross-stitch, balloon-animal making, and many other fun arts and crafts-y things kids generally grow out of within a week or two (Granted, the magic thing lasted a while). I collect decks of playing cards. I've attempted many collections over my many years, but (excluding my stuffed animal collection) the decks of cards collection is the only one that really stuck with me. I currently have about 42 decks of cards and I plan on continuing my collection. Also, the map you see behind me in the picture is one of three maps I have on my walls (I once fancied myself map collected, although it didn't pan out). That is a USA map and on the wall across from that one I have both a map of the world and an Illinois road map. I generally keep the fortunes I get in fortune cookies and I have to use oven pads/mits when I take bowls of ravioli out of the microwave (it's really hot!).

Also, many of the "subtitles" on my pictures will be sarcastic. Like the one above. I just thought I'd warn you all ahead of time.

-Morgan