Little Bits of Happiness

This week flew by much too quickly, leaving me thinking that today was Saturday and not Friday. My last year of undergrad starts in about two days, and with everything that I've been thinking about--so much thinking--in addition to everything that has happened in the last few months, I'm starting to feel a pressure building within my chest. I have this crazy feeling that I'm forgetting something important; my dreams have started reflecting this and other various school-related insecurities. This is how it usually starts.

And so, to quell the stress that is sure to set in, I'm making an extended pick-me-up list. I am determined to avoid what happened last year when I nearly lost my mind with everything that happened in and out of school. It's one attempt to keep my sanity, assuming things will be just as crazy. Below is the beginning of this list. I'll add to it as the year wears on.


1. Reading. Lots and lots of it, especially considering I've only had the chance to read a book and a half this summer.

2. "Uncharted" by Sara Bareilles. When I was pouring my heart out to my sister one night over the phone a few months ago, she suggested I listen to this song in hopes that I would find some sort of creative inspiration/comfort from everything that was going on. Since then it's been my go-to song for when things seem beyond overwhelming.

3. The Literary Snob. Indescribable beauty in so many respects. LOVE.

4. Drawing. Always.

5. Kurt doing "Single Ladies" in the "Preggers" episode of Glee. I will never, ever tire of it. (Sidenote: As good as the Glee 3D movie was, I was severely disappointed that "Single Ladies" didn't make the cut. Alas.)

6. The "Laryngitis" episode of Glee. It is my favorite episode from Season 1. Few words can accurately explain my adoration for this episode. It is incredible.

7. Any news concerning The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Struck By Lightning, and The Hunger Games. All three are pretty much guaranteed to be amazing.

8. Waiting patiently for The Woman In Black. I'm not much for scary movies, but I will definitely be there to see this one.

9. Pottermore. I'm still waiting for my Welcome email. It will be worth the wait.

10. Harry Potter. As one last hurrah of summer before Monday, I'm going to see Deathly Hallows Part 2 again tomorrow night. A perfect end to an imperfect summer vacation.

11. Earl Grey tea. I am fairly sure we were made for one another.

The Week from You Know Where

I hate moving. I've had to do it at least twice in the last year and a half, and I have been dreading this day for, oh, six months or so.

It's not that I don't like the idea of living elsewhere. The house we're moving into, though I have yet to see the inside of it, provides us with a lot of space--which is awesome. And it has a basement complete with a laundry room, so that means relaxing/no need to get laundry quarters again for awhile. The house is going to be pretty amazing, and I can't wait to settle in.

Saturday is our move-out day, and Monday is our move-in day. Sunday is going to be that weird limbo where I technically will be homeless. Alisha and I plan to stay in a motel so we may be able to have a real night's sleep on real beds.

But honestly? It's the process of getting to that point that is driving me insane. I'm working most of the week. My plan to have been packed by two days ago was thwarted due to a lot of work shifts after my class ended at the beginning of the month. I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff I still need to do before moving (and before the semester starts back up again). I'm worried about transporting all the stuff I have; over five years I have acquired a small library and many movies, and I'm a pack rat, so that doesn't help. I am not sure about any possible help yet for the actual moving part yet; I have asked Heidi, but she isn't sure about whether she'll be able to help yet, and as my mom is working this weekend, and my dad's shoulder out of commission...It is all too much for me to handle at the moment.

It doesn't help that my roommates and I are all on edge, and letting the stress vent itself in the form of annoyed bitchiness most of the time in conversation. This isn't helping my mind state at all; I have done my share of snapping at everyone, but it is difficult to alter one's attitude when being attacked, seemingly, from most directions. I mean, perhaps a lot of the frustration is in my head (moving stresses me out SO MUCH), and I'm only imagining most of the tension...but there is still something there. The consolation is that by this time next week, it will have disappeared. Until then, however...

Too many things to think about right now.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

• Turns out that Kurt's graduation doesn't mean he's leaving Glee. Brad Falchuk cleared it up at ComicCon. Wooohooo! Words cannot express my relief; Glee doesn't seem like Glee if Rachel, Finn, and Kurt--arguably the most prominent cores of the emotional plot--are not there to take part in some way. Especially Kurt, since he is a character so many are invested in, including myself. (Note: This may be acceptable after a few more seasons, but for right now, it's much too soon to see them go for good.) Related: I never thought I'd be this connected to a television show. This is basically the only one I have stuck with since first watching it, and I'm not much of a TV person at all. It blows my mind. The show is incredible.
• The Glee Project, while still annoying me from time to time, is alright. I'm still not fond of the stupid drama bits they tend to insert here and there--I find it incredibly distracting--but I am really intrigued with the casting process. I was sad when Matheus was sent home--it doesn't feel the same without him--I don't like Lindsay's "can't ever go wrong" demeanor, and I really, really want Hannah to win. She seems the most genuine to me, and I would love to see what kind of character she could bring to the show. 
• I have purchased The Invention of Hugo Cabret and intend to read it as soon as we're moved into the new house. More on this later; but rest assured I am STOKED to read it. 
• Prairie and I went to Waldenbooks on Sunday to check out the blowout sale. Regardless of the fact the discounts weren't as good as I had hoped (I saved only $6), it was surreal and very tragic to think that in mere weeks, Borders will have disappeared. So many feelings....
• This is probably going to be the thing that gets me through the next week and a half. I am so excited to see Struck by Lightning. It is sure to be awesome. Did you know that Chris Colfer wrote the script for it?* 
• Reason #1974626475 why Matthew Lewis is awesome**: He and I share the same passion and associated feelings for Beatles music. And we agree on the best Beatles album. Also, microwaved scrambled eggs? No words. 
• My grandparents will soon be celebrating their 60th anniversary. I'm so happy for them. <3

*Chris Colfer is one of my heroes. He is a genius.

**Matthew Lewis is also one of my heroes. Always and forever. We sent him a K-State hat once because he talked about his embarrassing Order of the Phoenix haircut on an early episode of PotterCast, and there was a call for hats (probably as a joke, but we still wanted to help him out).

Before I Dive Back Into Essay-Writing Classwork....

...one more thing about Klaine. Behold, the final skit from Glee Live 2011. (Also, this better quality video of the same skit.)

After crowns and fuzzy hats and marriage proposals and bridges and leprechauns and commemorative plates and all of the other bits of cleverness and wit that have come about from every single version of it, this.

Some people probably wouldn't totally understand what Glee itself is and what it represents, and definitely not how attached fans get to Kurt and Blaine's relationship (not that that's a bad thing; to each his/her own). And for those who love the show (and the relationship as well), it varies due to how they take it. For me, the show means a lot of different things (many of which I will talk about at length another time), and some of them are hard for me to explain because they're so complex.

The thing with Kurt and Blaine for me, however, is not just because Kurt is my favorite character--though that was part of what it started from. There was something there from the moment that the two meet that connected them to one another. I am strictly what the internet knows as a "Kurt/Happiness" shipper, so I was most concerned with Kurt finding someone that would provide him the happiness he deserves. So I was glad that Kurt had found a mentor, confidant, and friend in Blaine; and if it turned out that they would ultimately remain friends, I was okay with that. But as time when on, however, the relationship started growing and building up from this strong camaraderie they share. And unlike some other couples on the show*, the development (including the character development for both of them!) took its time, so that by the time we got to "Original Song", their admiration--and that kiss--was whole-heartedly deserved. (There are some other really important things that tie/lead into this moment, but that's for another post.)

And then there's the fact that Kurt and Blaine mean so much to so many people, and the characters themselves are brilliantly written (i.e. while they have their good moments, they are also flawed, which is fabulous and makes them seem so much better for one another) and are portrayed positively. Seeing that moment when it finally clicks in Blaine's head, and then later, when he is honest with Kurt about his feelings? Powerful, so beyond so, even. I see what they have as on par with the kind of relationship that Finn and Rachel have--though there are some significant differences, they're relationship feels like it will last a helluvah lot longer than a couple of episodes.

I guess one of the things I love so very much about this skit is that reflects that dynamic that they have on the show--as the other versions of the skit have. There's the genius of Chris Colfer**, once again, with that heartfelt reading of the beautiful, hysterical, clever poem (and I second the motion about those who call Kurt a stereotype, because while there may be a few elements that seem like a stereotype, the character most certainly is not). And then there's Darren Criss' response, which is wonderful as always. And Kurt's reaction, where he seems to float a little, then collapses in bliss, is both hilarious and wonderful. I'd imagine that that's what love does to a person, you know? It catches you off guard, then carries you off.

And though my main concern is still that Kurt is happy--I want him to be happy with whoever he ends up with, whether it would be Blaine or not--and that if he and Blaine are not meant by the power of the writers to remain together, I think I might be a little bummed if they break up. Because, you know, there'd have to be a good reason for it and they'd have to prove to me that anyone else is worthy of Kurt. He and Blaine just seem to fit each other.

And now I'm off to finish up this class. I am easily distracted...

*coughQuinn&Samcough

**Seriously though. Chris Colfer is awesome. He's clever, he's intelligent, he's witty, he's a brilliant actor, and so talented. He is the king of cool points as far as I'm concerned.

A Few More Bits of Klaine-y Goodness

First, this outtake that's been floating around the internet, which makes me laugh a LOT:

And then there is this version Glee Live skit from the 26 June show in London, seriously one of the best Klaine skits I've seen on YouTube thus far. Chris Colfer, as I think I've said before, is a GENIUS, and Darren Criss, as always, plays off him so well. 

Kurt and Blaine are seriously the best. THE. BEST. I can't get over it. 

[Image found via Facebook.]

Why Glee Kind of Matters (Another Probable Part One)

If you have not seen this review of Glee Live in NYC, you should read it, not only because it is honest, it also vocalizes something important that some fail to understand about Glee. And oh, is it spot-on--and that last line.... (Also be sure to check out the comments...no words.)

I will return to this subject. But first: homework.

Sidenote: Also check out the video the author provides of the Kurt/Blaine skit from the late show. It is probably my favorite of all the ones I've watched on YouTube because

A) Kurt is awesome (and my favorite character, so that's a given)

B) Kurt and Blaine are wonderful together and

C) It is hilarious. (And Chris Colfer ad-libbing--from what I understand, anyway--with Darren Criss' responses are possibly the greatest thing since sliced bread.)

Good Article Alert....

...concerning Blaine and Kurt, of course.  Many thanks to a friend of mine (Hi Crystal!) from Facebook as well as Deconstructing Glee for the heads up: there is an excellent three-part discussion of the two characters' singing styles in relation to current societal norms entitled "The Countertenor and The Crooner". (Part 2, Part 3)

Quotage #1:

“Defying Gravity” both reflects Kurt’s character and transcends him, presenting the feminine male voice, as, quite literally, defiant. In Colfer’s hands, this song becomes a manifesto for a new generation of queer kids. Kurt is here defying the dominant gender norms that would keep his voice from taking flight, as well as defying the sex binaries of American mainstream culture that would prevent from him playing a girls’ role. In Glee’s narrative, Kurt protests at not being allowed to sing the song because “it is a girl’s song.” “Defying Gravity” is the beginning of Kurt/Colfer’s gradual erosion and queering of the gendered/sexed norms surrounding popular singing, which Glee most often presents through Kurt’s reclamation of the diva.

(McCracken, from part 2)

Quotage #2:

Glee celebrates the crooner for the very qualities that masculinist America does not: his alignment with the cultural feminine through his preference for romantic songs and commercial pop, his status as an erotic object for male and female audiences, his beauty and sensitivity, his emotional openness and transparency. And Glee’s producers have cast an actor as Blaine, Darren Criss, whose star persona emphasizes and extends these same qualities to a remarkable degree. Like Kurt/Colfer, Blaine/Criss offers a new model of American male performer, one that goes beyond being gay-and-girl “friendly” to truly embracing a gender-queer performance style and persona. Blaine/Criss retains the sincerity of the crooner even as he performs beyond the boundaries of a fixed or normative gender identity.

(McCracken, part 3)


It's an excellent series (and definitely worth checking out). Beautifully written, wonderful points...I especially loved the historical context McCracken provides; it is strange to see how things have begun, changed, and evolved over the years, how society has changed. There's a lot of stuff, too, that your average grade-school history class leaves out (but this is not the time and place for that discussion).

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about: the wonderful things Glee is doing with gender and stereotypes and other themes and traditions. And it makes me so happy. Bring it on, world.

(Sort of related: My dad told me earlier tonight that he thought Kurt's version of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" was the best version he'd ever heard--and I did a little happy dance because I agree wholeheartedly.)