In seventh grade my science teacher assigned the first of many term papers. The topic was to chose any vertebrate that we'd like and describe their pertinence to their native region, specific characteristics, etc.
As surprising as it might be to any one who knows all about me and my slacker tendencies today, back in my youth I was a studious and active class participant.
Thus, this term paper was of the utmost importance. Which pissed me off because I had absolutely no idea which animal to chose. I wanted to be "original", which meant no lions or zebras, but I didn't want to be the chick researching the sloth or anteater either. And so, one way or another after much debate, I ended up in the ape family and from there narrowed it down to mountain gorillas.
Almost immediately I became infatuated with the mountain gorilla. I read up on Dian Fossey, watched Congo probably a few too many times, and I even sent a letter to a textbook series publishing company asking if they would send me a copy of the edition centered around apes.
I also played clarinet in the school band and sat with the Asian girls at lunch: do not judge me.
But above all while constructing the paper all I wanted to do was go to Africa, the cradle of life. Specifically the areas afflicted with civil strife where the dwindling population of mountain gorillas lived. Now keep in mind this was my stage of development post-Spice Girl appreciation but several years before my gothic whore phase, and so I might've been a little confused at my very best.
Yet regardless of the interesting looks I got that year when I replied "A primatologist" after adults would ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I held fast to my wish to travel into the African midst.
Then, puberty finished off, high school came around, and the only exotic greenlands I was interested in came from Josh, the local dealer.
I pretty much forgot about my fascination with Africa and the mountain gorillas until earlier this year when my uncle, a big man in the pediatric AIDS field, said he was going to live and work in Kenya for the better part of the year. He told me that my cousins and aunt were going to join him there and, aware of my earlier interest in the African landscape, invited me to come along.
Strangely, although my mother won't let me go more than a three hour radius from home to attend college, she consented to letting me go visit my uncle in Kenya with little to no alcoholic encouragement.
I was shocked, excited, and when I heard my flight would be landing in Amsterdam before transferring to Kenya, I was interested in the best smuggling techniques.
Though for the first few weeks of travel arrangements I was almost certain something would prevent my trip, now, only a month away from my prebooked flight I can hopefully safely say that I'm going to Africa.
Now all I have to do is get inoculated for about eleven different diseases in order to avoid death and other such uncomfortable ailments on my trip. But a few shots in exchange for getting the chance to knock out one of my lifelong dreams after less than a decade of yearning, well that isn't bad at all.
Have you ever searched your name on Google? You always look around a few times to make sure no one can see you type it. And you know it's perverse and conceited, but that's pretty much the appeal of it.
Well..yeah, me neither.
But hypothetically I did something similar to that today and searched "missmojorising.blogspot.com" in blogger's database. Yes, I am dirty.
I didn't really expect to find anything of interest from this hypothetical search but I was in the midst of a history essay and had grown tired of playing with myspace.
Strangely, though, the first item pulled up by the search was a review of my site.
At first I was shocked that someone had actually expended time on not only scanning my blog but then formulating an opinion on it and posting his conclusions. Then I was a bit sad that this poor mislead man had actually expended said time on it. But then I was happy again that I hadn't been entirely right about no one reading my blog.After all I'm a seventeen year old female, I need incessant amounts of attention.
And so I'm shamelessly whoring out my review because well, I need incessant amounts of attention. Plus it's still rather cool that someone I don't even know took a few minutes to acknowledge my babblings, no matter how random.
Okay, so I'm back momentarily. I still plan on upholding this blogger recession of mine, but I was just handed something that may not completely "boring 'n stuff". And if it is, oh well. Shove it.
So today I had a melt down of sorts. This is clearly not something entirely foreign to me. But as of late my judaic anxiety has been even further amplified by continuous collegiate stress and perhaps a little too much useless sex.
Anyway I wouldn't have even thought to mention the general fog of today until my mom came home and handed me a Manila folder that has "For: Beautiful One" scripted on the front in blue sharpie. Obviously I was all "Wtf, mom?" as this kind of address was rather peculiar. And also really fucking weird.
She told me it was from a secretary at the school she works in. A secretary who, for no particular reason, has taken a liking to me. Today she asked "So how's your daughter doing?" and my mother, who had just gotten off the phone with me and was still recovering from talking me through my moderate conniption, answered "Well, she had a little melt down today. But she'll be fine." It seems my mom must've gone into more detail about what was bothering me because inside the nicely addressed envelope was this:
I can't remember the last time someone said I was beautiful and I don't think I've ever really believed them. But despite my mundane female insecurity this letter, which sounds like it was written by the Buddha collaborating with Oprah, was probably one of the kindest gestures anyone has ever made toward me. Sincere and uplifting, this woman added just enough happiness to my day to make it not a complete waste of time.
It just goes to show you that random acts of kindness aren't complete bullshit and maybe, when you think you've got nothing, there's still something out there. Aside from that Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul mildly nauseating sensitivity, I can now say that my day no longer sucked copious amounts of ass and Marie Williams may be my new best friend.
And so castles made of sand melt into the sea, eventually.
I started this blog in an attempt to further encourage my procrastination and slacker tendencies regarding school work and whatever other daily nonsense I wanted to avoid.
Though I've got to say I have enjoyed writing much of this nonsensical babbling for the past year, I'm starting to feel that maybe my time on blogger is done.
As some rather rude yet earnest peer of mine told me today "Yo, I read your blog. It's like really well written 'n stuff but it isn't very interesting." After recovering from this rather blunt remark, I spewed out the automatic "...Um. Excuse me?"
But I got to thinking perhaps the kid was right.
I would like to think that some other bored people out there, trying to avoid their studies might have gotten some appreciation or at least moderate amusement out of this little site of mine.
Whatever the case, the truth is, I write for me.
Even if it is just the random babblings of a bewildered young girl, I've had fun with this project. And managed to put off copious conundrums of classwork while doing so.
As they say, "Everything must come to an end." And as usual, they seem to be right.
So even though I'll probably be back in a matter of weeks, bitching about some current event or updating my list of sexy and deceased guitarists.
My new favorite person is Bailey McGrath. She weights roughly 15 pounds, likes to test how many surrounding objects she can fit into her mouth at once, and has a smile that would make even Adolf go gaga. Though getting in a bit late in the game, I've started babysitting for one of my mom's coworkers. The result, a brilliant 3 year old named Victoria and her sister, a kid with gray-blue eyes that devour every nuance they pass over with utter amazement and delight (Miss B.).
Obviously there were many nonsensical phrases screamed from my x chromosomes like "Awwww" and "Ahh, bubashana, so cute". So yes, at times, I sounded like an old Yiddish woman (or Yenta for those who have a background). But most importantly I'm in love. And pissed off that I didn't have a digital camera with me today which would've enabled me to post a tedious and exorbitant number of maternal-pride pictures on here of my new buddy. Because trust me it would've been fucking adorable.
On a side note, last night I attended a masquerade ball organized by my friend's Baptist church. In case the Yenta comment above didn't hint at it, that is definitely not my preferred, or familiar, religion. Nevertheless it sounded like it'd be an interesting outing and of course I never turn down an opportunity to dress up.
In short, rather than walking into a stuffy dining hall with proper ladies and gentlemen citing scripture, I was met with a gargantuan disco ball and a smoke machine. Basically I ended up doing the Electric Slide with the pastor who then assisted me in leading the Macarena along with a horde of middle-aged Baptist men and women who rocked my socks out on the dance floor. Good times, good times.
T.V. is passe. And what does a book look like again?
The new frontier of the internet has thoroughly integrated itself into the daily routine of pretty much anything on the planet that can carry out at least 3 out of the 10 life processes.
Whether you enjoy the electric plexus because it allows you to pirate music or simply appreciate it for the numerous occasions when you can imagine you're a 10 year old girl named Kara with blonde pigtails, the world wide web caters to all.
Though on my travels I've come across quite a number of worthy sites, it seems as of late I've been sticking to the same routine of websites.
Thus, I'm asking any and all of you for a link or two that you feel is noteworthy or at the very least amusing, verging on offensive. Pretty much anything obscure and/or interesting to spice up my internet itinerary a bit.
Or no one could comment on this post and I'll look like a douche. And a lonely douche at that. Either way, I've probably already mentioned most of my favorite links or they're located to the right of this post under Brain Candy, but here are some more of my findings that have tickled my fancy in the past:
Today I sent an old friend a few pictures of myself in a slightly compromising ensemble, or lack thereof, in the name of democracy. (And MySpace).
I believe the dumb ho response of "tee hee" is appropriate at this juncture.
You see, he, being a hardcore bush supporter, offered me a deal I just couldn't refuse. In exchange for allowing me to refurbish his space page with anti-bush decorations, I finally gave into letting him have a small gander at a few blurry, grainy webcamera pictures. Oh, sure some may think stooping to such a level of perverse correspondence is no way to achieve peace. And they're probably right.
But let's be frank. I've known this person for over 4 years, and much, much less familiar people have had a peek or two at the twins.
So, for what it's worth I may be making way toward a better America, one amateur picture at time. Or more likely, at the very least, contributing to the Hun's database.
On a side note, I really hope my family members aren't privy to this blog yet. As a post such as this is most likely not fit for the online community, not to mention my Gramps.
