Coffee House

I was pleasantly surprised when I attended Athen's bi-annual coffeehouse hosted by Athen's literary magazine. My old school held monthly Coffee Houses, which were gatherings of about thirty students drinking coffee and watching performances. The Athens Coffee House was in a similar vein, except on a larger scale. It was like seeing a life-sized version of your favorite doll.

The first thing I noticed was that Athens' vibe felt totally different from Rochester's. Everyone's look was very "artsy", like I'd stepped into some underground scene. The Rochester jersey so commonly seen in my high school seemed completely out of place in this crowd. After eyeing the crowd, I was immediately drawn to the steaming vats of Caribou coffee and tables laden with baked goods. I was expecting a dingy little cafeteria with maybe a few clumps of people so I was surprised to see packed room decorated with pretty holiday lights. The back walls were transformed into a makeshift chalkboard where people leave their little doodles.

I think I watched about twenty-something performances. Most were acoustics and vocals. Favorites of the night:


1) a wonderfully exotic song called "Mayya, Mayya". The whole crowd was stomping and clapping to the beat. I was so taken with this performance, that I had to ask friend what song it was and search it up on Youtube. Not to be biased, but I think the singer at the Coffee House sounded better.

2) An acoustic rendition of the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The tune was so different that I didn't realize what song it was until I heard the lyrics. I used to love watching Fresh Prince and most of the people didn't get it. I felt like I was in on some secret joke. XDDDD



3) A quartet singing "You Belong With Me". Musically, it wasn't that extraordinary, but how can you resist the catchiest song of 2009? The video recording on my camera captured mostly nothing but blurry lights and my off-key singing hurhurhur.

4) The ukulele! Being the genius that I am, I was going around cooing "Oooh, look that little guitar! It's so adorable. How did she find one that small?" until someone kindly pointed "Ummm. That's a ukulele -_-." Honestly, I don't even remember what the song was because I was so enraptured by that ukulele. I think "ukulele" it's a perfect name for a cute mini-guitar. Ukuleleukulelekukulelekukuleleukulele. It's really fun to type too. Ukuleleukuleleukuleleukulele.



5) The reason I went to Coffee House! A performed "The Call" by Regina Spektor accompanied by C on the guitar. It's such an exquisite song and it was certainly worth the wait!

The singer and I. :)


The music, poetry, and coffee.... It was one of those nights that makes you think. I just had to express my appreciation on the chalk wall. <3 Unfortunately, I ended up drinking wayyyy too much coffee and stayed up until 4am. D:


Random spazz: Lately so many people have been saying that I look younger than I am. Whenever I say that I'm a senior, people's eyes bug out and they go "What? I thought you were like a sophomore!" Even some of my friends forget that I'm a senior. :(


-sigh- I suppose it's true, but I think it's just because of my haircut and when I have no makeup on. Nobody said I looked younger than my age when I had my digital perm last year. >_>

On The Outside Looking In

I already know that I don't belong. Usually the feeling is subtle, but today I was ostracized in a very obvious way: gift exchanging. It's extremely awkward to stand in a group and make small talk, while trying to ignore the little packages being passed around you. I felt more out of place than ever, standing there smiling stupidly and overdressed in my knit dress and boots.

The feeling didn't really hit me until J was happily playing with his little treat baggie and asked me if I got one too. "Ummm no... I didn't get anything," I replied candidly. I didn't realize how pathetic it sounded until I said it. I instantly regretted saying it because it was so embarrassing to see that pitying look in his eyes. He tried to give me his treats, which of course I refused so he gave me some gum. I appreciated the thought but "low" is the only word I can use to describe how I felt.

The problem with our youth group is that it's so closed off from outsiders. When I brought my friend S to visit the church, we ended up hanging out only with each other since no one was willing to talk or include her. Several times, people have come to the church only to never return again. They end up going to other churches. I'm deeply disappointed when I hear this because there were quite a few people I'd liked to have been friends with. This rather unwelcoming attitude was displayed again tonight, when there was a foreign exchange student from Germany. After the initial round of brief introductions, she was mainly left alone. I, along with a couple of my friends and the group leaders, held up a decent conversation but during the free time I saw her by herself again. I ended talking to her the entire time and no one else gave her so much as a second glance.

I've had reservations for a while now but tonight something in me has bubbled over. I am so over this church and everything about it. I've been going there nearly every week and tired of it. I dislike it so much I want to remove myself from anything associated with it. When I leave for university, I have no intention of returning there. I will never "visit" this church unless it's absolutely necessary. It's not so much hate or anger I'm feeling than... That disgust you feel when you eat the same thing breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every single day of the year.

In the meantime, I'll stay active. Then I'll just stop. And if someone asks me why I never come, I'll just reply, "I felt like an alien."

The Party Don't Start 'Til I Walk In....

Mmm, I had a blast last week. Or actually, two weeks ago. No, three. I never seem to be able time blog on time. -__-


Anyway, I attended a friend's black-and-white themed sweet sixteenth a while ago. I'm always up for innovation when it comes to partying instead of the same old pizza and lukewarm games. When it comes to parties, this one definitely brought the sexy back.

I bought the birthday girl a cute little purple dress with removable straps. I really wanted to use up the adorable Martha Steward bags I bought two years ago, so I baked some sugar cookies. I found this purse-like fancy gift bag as well. The overall effect was so pretty I just had to take a picture of it. Sadly, Lao Ba deleted the photo. Ugh. ><

The food was served buffet-style in silver platters. I chose chicken breast, fettucine alfredo, string beans, garden salad, and garden bread. Simple but delicious.




The highlight of the food was, of course, the birthday cake. The cake also matched the black and white theme with white cream and black frosting in a flowery design.


The birthday girl really stood out amongst the sea of black and white in her golden party frock.



I danced the rest of the night away along to the DJ. Of course, all the current mainstream hits were played. Favorites of the night: Tick Tock, Boom Boom Pow (I literally screamed when the DJ played it), Down, and yes, Party In The USA. Strangely, Lady GaGa didn't make an appearance. :( At one point, feeling playful, I walked up and said in my best Tiffany voice, "DJ.... Put it back on." I forget which song it was, but he did! No one caught my little joke though because they weren't SNSD fans.






The birthday girl hired a professional photographer as well and there was a section where the guests took pictures with her. He snapped away while we were dancing and some people found it a bit creepy, but I must admit I enjoyed feeling famous. I can't wait to get the photos.

It was a great night. I enjoyed mingling with the other guests. The only downer was that my dress kept sliding down so I couldn't dance as freely as I would've liked. Note to self: I must find a way to make that dress stay the next time I wear it.


I couldn't resist stealing a balloon. XDDD

Window

Sometimes I wonder where my brain is. I've accepted the fact that it left for a permanent vacation ages ago but it gets a little lonely up there.... :(

So one evening I was in my room wondering what is the point of closing the curtains. There's no need to block the sun since I get up so early. I'd have to draw it open every morning to let some sun in my room anyway. Why not just keep it open? After thinking about it for a while I concluded that closing the curtain is absolutely pointless.

A few days ago I was changing in my room when I looked out my bedroom window and saw my neighbor's Christmas lights shining brightly. That's when I realized windows are see through which means that I can see them, and they can see me, in all my nakedness. I also realized that I'd been changing in front of windows in friends' houses as well because I'd been using them as a mirror.

.... Using the window as a mirror is probably not a very smart idea, especially since my window faces the main street. v__v