A Pondering Paradox's Palace » Uncategorized http://alisonflanagan.com poetry and prose from a rambling, over-imaginative high schooler Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:59:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 My 2011 Book List http://alisonflanagan.com/2012/01/22/my-2011-book-list/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2012/01/22/my-2011-book-list/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:59:39 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=929 The 31 books I read in 2011…(I definitely read more, but unfortunately, I was horrible about updating this…) (counting the books I reread, I read 35 books)

1)Percy Jackson and The Olympians [Books 1,2,3, 4]
2)Alex Rider Series [Books 1,2,3,4, 5]
3) Set-Apart Femininity
4) Go Tell it On the Mountain
5) Purity
6) All the King’s Men
7) The Heart of the Matter
8)Things Fall Apart
9) Peter and the Starcatchers
10) Brave New World
11) That Hideous Strength
12) I Kissed Dating Goodbye
13) Eragon twice)
14) 100 Years of Solitude
15) Never Let Me Go
16) Eldest (twice)
17) The Kite Runner
18) Ranger’s Apprentice – Halt’s Peril (Book 9)
19) Bossypants
20) The Bride Collector
21) Pollution and the Death of Man
22) The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
23) Young Woman’s Call to Prayer
24) John Muller’s Journal
25) Shattered Mirror
26) Ball of Fire (biography of Lucille Ball)
27) City of Ashes (twice)
28) City of Bones (twice)
29) City of Glass (twice)
30) New Moon
31) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Currently reading – Commentary on the Book of Mark, The Case for Christ, The Color of Style, The Unvanquished, To Have or Not to Have, In Our Time, Letters from the Underground

On the list: Juicy Writing, I Still Believe, 1,000 Gifts, Mere Christianity, The Mysterious Benedict Society

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2012/01/22/my-2011-book-list/feed/ 0 A taste of my college… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/09/03/a-taste-of-my-college/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/09/03/a-taste-of-my-college/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:17:18 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=877 Did you know that mohawk means I am a cannibal?

Did you know that in 800 B.C. Indians were shopping over what would later be called, Tysons Corner Mall?

Did you know that when Columbus needed to get water on a island inhabited by cannibals, he dressed up his crew as missionaries? The Carib cannibals once ate a missionary and got very sick afterwords so they wouldn’t go anywhere near anyone who looked like a missionary.

These are just a few of the random, but awesome facts I’ve learned in history class in the last few weeks.

I know that community colleges get a bad rap, everything, including the hilarious show Community and everyone, like my next door neighbor, make jokes about community college. But me? I think community college is pretty swell.

And this history class that I’m in? Really awesome. I’m so excited. Not only is this teacher super good at making you actually interested in the material, but I asked him about his honor options and got super pumped! I’m going to be researching a friend of John Wilkes Booth that may have some new information on him.

I don’t want to say much more because it might mess up my teacher’s plans (he’s writing a book right now…well, he writes lots of books) but I am stoked!

(And I’d have to be excited to use a word like “stoked”)

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/09/03/a-taste-of-my-college/feed/ 0 Totally made my day… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/31/totally-made-my-day/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/31/totally-made-my-day/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:23:12 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=874 If you’ve seen the Lord of the Rings movies, this will completely make your day. Rosie at Rosie-Button shared this video with me and I laughed so hard! I do have to warn you – there are a few bad words/inappropriate jokes towards the end so if those things offend you, don’t watch but there’s not a lot and I think the other, truly hilarious parts, make up for it.

Elijah Woods Interview

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/31/totally-made-my-day/feed/ 1 No Costa Rica… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/28/no-costa-rica/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/28/no-costa-rica/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:25:07 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=871 I really did plan to put up, at least, another day’s worth of Costa Rican adventures today but stuff happened. Church, lack of power because of hurricane, theological discussion with lawyer brother, tickling wars with niece and nephew, you know…Sunday stuff. I will post soon though. Because I only have three classes this week. Which means I only will be spending 7 hours on homework each day, best case scenario.

In other news – last night I had a Anne of Green Gables + Anne of Green Gables The Sequel marathon with my dad (who gave up near the end) Those movies are actually incredible. And I don’t call “chick flicks” incredible often. I have never even read those books but now I want to.

Seriously though, every time I watch those movies they make me rethink my whole life. And I really like the outfits too…


“It’s just that I went looking for my ideals outside of myself…until I realized everything I need is right here.” or something like that. I need more sleep.

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/28/no-costa-rica/feed/ 2 Top 5 Songs of the Week http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/12/top-5-songs-of-the-week/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/12/top-5-songs-of-the-week/#comments Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:41:28 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=858 I always enjoy those type five songs of the week posts I’ve seen some people do. I never bother with them myself for a few reasons. Mainly, because my music tastes don’t change. My favorites are my favorites for years and I listen to them over and over.
Also, my music tastes tends to be dark and depressing instead of happy and uplifting. Oops? I swear if anyone judged me by my music they would think I was a manic depressive. I promise I’m not, I just think sad music is deep and has a lot of meaning.
Today though, I’m not doing my favorite songs but the ones I listened to the most. Ironically, only one out of five of these is actually on my Itouch. Thank goodness for youtube?

Anyway, I’m chilling right now down at Virginia Tech. We “officially” drop off my brother tomorrow morning after we put all his stuff in his dorm room. (while he gets welcomed to boot camp)

We had an uneventful trip down and went out for dinner and belt shopping (he needed a very specific one) once we got down here. I picked up two shirts too. (Oh the advantages of tagging along) And did I mention I love the store Ross?

It seems like almost everyone complains about how disorganized this store is and while I have no problem admitting that, I feel like digging around a bit is worth it when you get the prices that you do.

Anyway, enough about my night. Onto the top five…


Stop and Stare – OneRepublic
If you happen to creep around this blog you’ve probably noticed this song mentioned before. Why? Because I happen to adore this song. It’s been one of my favorites since it came out. I love it. Period. The End.
If you haven’t heard it yet, you’re really missing out.


The Call – Regina Spektor
I really like Regina Spektor. She does things with her voice that most others can’t/don’t seem to want to. I heard this song first on the credits for Prince Caspian and after four words I knew it was her. I love the words of the song, the tune, the whole thing. I’ve been listening to it a lot with all the changes in my life – siblings going off to college, prep for me to go off to college, etc.


I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

Another depressing song. I’ve never quite placed what it is I like about this song but I always have. It’s pretty well put together musically too.


Buck Rogers – Feeder

This is perhaps the weirdest song I’ve ever heard. The lyrics make zero sense but somehow, the tune is sooo catchy. I first heard this in the movie Behind Enemy Lines and my brother and I liked it so much we looked up the lyrics afterword. This is my fall-to background music for when I have to do a mindless job (like Drivers Ed.)


Rolling in the Deep – Adele

Hey look, some popular music for a change! I love the beat to this song – it makes me want to get up and clean my room or go on the treadmill. I also adore Adele’s voice – she has so much power and control all at the same time.

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/08/12/top-5-songs-of-the-week/feed/ 1 I really want… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/07/31/i-really-want/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/07/31/i-really-want/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:29:26 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=848 to do THIS to my hair.
but I won’t.
until some other time.

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/07/31/i-really-want/feed/ 2 The Best Advice I Can Offer… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/09/the-best-advice-i-can-offer/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/09/the-best-advice-i-can-offer/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:00:25 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=836 When life seems tiring, overwhelming, exhausting, horrible, awful or any such negative emotion…take a shower. Life always seems a lot less bleak after you get a little water on your face.

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/09/the-best-advice-i-can-offer/feed/ 0 Summer Book List http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/summer-book-list/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/summer-book-list/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:39:52 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=814 It is officially summer for me. I finished my last class (and assignments) last Friday and celebrated with a week full of crazy hanging out, lake house activites and partying over my brother’s graduation.

Then I thought, I need a summer reading list. I had a great class this year that “forced” me to read a lot of good classic books and while I’ll be gone for, at least, five weeks this summer…there’s still plenty of time to read some books.

So here’s the start to some of the books that I want to read over the summer: (an “x” means that I’ve read them in the past)

1) Of Mice and Men (x)

2) Bossy Pants - Tina Fey (read the description of this book on the link…made me laugh out loud)

3) Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

4) Still Alice

5) A Beautiful Mind

6) The Kite Runner (on the list while I was making the draft…now finished – absolutely fantastic, mind-blowing read)

7) The Color Purple

So what great books am I missing out on? This is a pathetically short list, people! I need to get cultured!

Yay or nay on the new background?

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/summer-book-list/feed/ 0 Countdowns… http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/countdowns/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/countdowns/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:02:07 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=817 You know that feeling when something’s going to happen and it seems so far in the future and all of a sudden, you remember that it’s actually in about an hour. I usually get this feeling with parties or dinner but now I’m getting it with my summer plans.

On Friday or Saturday, I will drive up to MA to visit relatives. On Tuesday, my National Speech competitions begin. (For which, I really need to practice and rewrite my speeches) Then, next Saturday I will fly out to go to Costa Rica. I’ll be there for an entire month. With a family who only speaks Spanish.

It’s going to be weird, but in a good way. I love being busy and I love stretching my comfort zone…but it just seems so soon!

Not to mention that it makes my summer extremely busy. The day after I come back, I start babysitting. I’ll babysit for two weeks and then I’ll take drivers ed for two weeks. Then babysit for another week and round it off by starting my NOVA classes on August 22. Wow, crazy…
But exciting. It’ll make this week kinda amazing too. :)

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/06/06/countdowns/feed/ 0 This is your life/ Are you who you want to be? http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/05/27/this-is-your-life-are-you-who-you-want-to-be/ http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/05/27/this-is-your-life-are-you-who-you-want-to-be/#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 16:17:55 +0000 Alison Flanagan http://alisonflanagan.com/?p=812 “What are you going to do when you grow up?…I mean, when you grow up more?”
That small clarified sentence, spoken by my best friend’s younger sister, completely freaked me out.
The question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” is common enough, especially now that I’m a junior in high school, but that always implied that I still have time to really “become a person.” Right now is just the experimental stage. The added caviet that I was already grown up blew my mind.
People always say that I’m mature for my age, but they also tend to assume that I’m younger than I actually am.
I live my life with the assumption that I’m still a kid. Despite what adults say when they compliment me on my maturity or intelligence, I know they still view me as a child.
Having someone, especially my best friend’s sibling, think of me as already reaching adulthood redefines how I view myself.
I remember when I was that young and I looked at older girls and considered them as a bases for what I would be. When an older girl was sweet and charming to everyone around her, I would think, “I want to be just like her!”
I was a silent watcher, observing and forming opinions on people I would never actually talk to. The idea that that “older girl” is now me is horrifying because I know that if anyone looks up to me, they’ll be sorely disappointed.
In the words of my best friend, on the phone today, “I’m growing up. I can’t help it.”
It’s pretty terrifying.
In the words of Switchfoot, “This is your life – are you who you want to be?”
There are no second chances, no “ready, set, go” announcements. What I have right now is the life that I will continue to live till I die. For better or worse, I am growing up. Now I’ve just got to make the most out of it.

]]> http://alisonflanagan.com/2011/05/27/this-is-your-life-are-you-who-you-want-to-be/feed/ 0