CELL HELL

You know, everyone nowadays has a cell phone.
     It's like our lives orbit around that rectangular piece of steel...and it's not even a sphere! I can’t disagree though…I’m one of those people that just can’t part with their phone. Every few minutes I’ll be checking my phone.

Oh look! I have…zero missed calls, zero new texts, the facebook frontier is quiet…

Then I remember I’ve had zero incoming calls, zero texts. For the last five minutes...

*ALERT ALERT. ALERT ALERT* 

    Nothing like a text message at full volume at 3am to get the blood flowing! But what I wonder is why are we so compelled to check our phones for messages or alerts or calls? Will the world stop orbiting around the sun? Will the apocalypse come within seconds of ignoring our phones?
    The single beep (of a text alert) has ultimately replaced the telephone ring; and in the process has made “I must have been away from the phone” an out-dated and unsatisfactory excuse. Rarely is there a situation where you cannot text; your friends know it, and you know it. Out to dinner? In church? Movie theater? Getting a root canal? Audrey Hepburn might have used these excuses not to pick up the line, but you – you no good textaholic – have no right to ignore the requests of your friends, co-workers, and relatives.
    The movie He's Just Not That Into You nailed it when Mary said: I had this guy leave me a voicemail at work, so I called him at home, and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry, and so I texted to his cell, and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It's exhausting.
    So what is this obsession we have with non-verbal communication? Is it so hard to call? We have become so accustumed to texting that if we send a message and don't hear back within 5 minutes we automatically assume that we did something wrong! I am guilty of this, and I hate to admit it! What is wrong with us? Why do we do this? Is it because we are afraid of other humans? Or has face to face, verbal communication become a thing of the past?

Movie Lovers R Us

Ever since I can remember I have loved movies and can easily be caught up in story of even the simplest of films. So it should come at no surprise that I fill the silence in the mornings with a movie, I suppose that it helps my day start.
   Today I was in a particular mood, so I threw in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. And as the end drew nearer and the music transitioned to a soft and thoughtful tune, I was became blatantly aware that the next movie in the serious is to be released come this November. I admit that I am smiling even as I type the release date, but it is bitter sweet.

   For those of us who have been hooked long before the series hit the big screen, back when the only way you could go to Hogwarts was by cracking open the book. Many may remember when we were all so very anxious to know the secret behind The Goblet of Fire, and what The Dark Lord's insidious plan was. It seems as only yesterday when my brother and I were fighting over whose turn it was to read a chapter in the long awaited Order of the Phoenix. Now we find ourselves waiting for the two-part final chapter hits the silver screen.

My question is: what movies are we to wait for once July comes?

                                                                                                                    THERE IS HOPE

The demand for movies is increasing, however the ideas are becoming far less original. Take Avatar for example was the story of Pocahontas on CGI steroids. Believe me when I say it was among the most visually stunning movies within the last few years, but it was lacking in script originality. Most directors are turning to novels, more so now, then in the past, because of the fan-base. However, it can be presumed that the Harry Potter series will remain one of the most successful in movie history, more so because of its length. I can only assume that the whole world will be waiting for what could possible trump this epic story. Until we find that out... July is dooms day!

THE AUDITION

I came to a conclusion today,  I am like Tinkerbell... I NEED applause to live!
And where do I find myself right now (look around the room inquisitively, while pausing for dramatic effect) without applause.
Tonight I found myself where all performers do: Auditions. Were it not for my charming room mate Amanda, I would have bailed. Her powers of persuasion were far greater then my tongue's protesting words, and I went reluctantly, to my doom. Breathing deep breaths along the way. You would think with such horrid behavior I was the prima-donna at the Met, as opposed to the simple wanna-be institute chorus singer that I was aspiring to be. And as we drove the eternal (5 minute) drive my heart raced as my distaste towards Amanda only thickened.
I will admit that a sudden rush of happy thoughts and wonderfully joyous emotions filled me when I saw that the gate was closed to the institute...

Amanda announced that it wasn't.

We made our way to the dark, dreary, bottom floor of the building and all the while I kindly explained to my bosom friend that this was not the place for me. She uttered words of obnoxious protest and told me kindly that we could leave if I:
REALLY
TRULY
HONESTLY
GENUINELY
and SINCERELY believed that my best decision was to go, then we would and she would not say anything against my decision, and she would respect it. So my dearest readers I regret to say that despite all efforts, I stayed and waited until my name was called, and the door slammed behind me.

Now when I entered the room a bald, pompous, and rather delightful man sat suffocating his chair with a tie round his neck, and a grin that resembled Jack the Pumpkin King. To his right sat a man of short stature, and a thin frame, he too was smiling. The only faces that weren't lying to me upon arrival were that of the two girls that claimed the right of the thinner man. They held tired, college grins and I found it rather refreshing. I was asked the usual questions, such as where are you from? Do you like to sing? (to which wonder no I hate singing that is why I am here red faced, tired and quite frankly high from fear. I hate sing I go through this personal torture only to better myself in society, and make our world better for what Obama said best, Change) Then after the rather worthless introductions were made I was asked to sing, which might I remind you I sarcastically hate doing. Come Come Ye Saints was the weapon of their choosing and I sang the only way I knew how: screaming. OK, so I sang properly, stood up straight and sang as if it were my last song. When finished I was buried beneath lavish compliments and then asked to blend with an Alto, and after that a soprano. Which might I add went very, very well but I will remain humble.

    Then came the insidious, wicked, evil, crude and murderous SIGHT READING! I know you're frightened, so was I. Well I made what could only be called an honest attempt at reading. I didn't do very well until I was given strict advise: sing before the piano. I did, and it went smoothly. Not a moment later was I told to repeat the same stanza.
To the amazement of my judges I performed flawlessly. Apparently it is NOT common for someone to memorize music so quickly. I was not amazed or even impressed by my so called skill, it was nothing new to me. However, the large man smiled an even larger grin then I believed possible for the human face and he began telling me of my vocal accomplishments. I smiled and felt my face redden with childish delight, he claimed that my audition went beyond that of the average student. My range was wide, and my voice strong, it had a certain sound to it that he claimed to have never heard before. However, what astonished him most was the emotion that I captured with not only my face but my voice, and how convincing I was of the message I was singing.
    When all had finished their praise and compliments I left, knowing that I could not have done better. I do not know whether I earned my place in the choir, but I can be certain that I left my mark. I thanked Amanda for doing tricking me to stay without her, such a night could not have been possible. I had not only entertained my audience but rather captivated them. And though I could have been mistaken, I felt as if I had transfixed them, if only for a moment.