Feb 28

Hey It's Lauren

**Before you continue reading, listen to the song "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore (clean version please!!!)**

As some of you may know, "thrift store" by Macklemore is my favorite song.  It's so relate-able.  Every time a friend shows me the new shirt they just bought at Free People or the new Lexis they just bought (nbd), I'm just like "yo that's $50 for a T-shirt" (in the words of Macklemore).    Though the song can be a bit intimidating at first, with the 543908 'whats' at the beginning, it speaks the truth.  So, here are some.........

.........Reasons why Thrift Shop is the best song:
    
1. It's relate able:
One day, not too long ago, as I was leaving my house in my crank window car, my mom asked me where I was going.  As Mackelmore would say, I responded "I'm gonna pop some tags."  My mom, unfamiliar with the song, had no idea what I was talking about.  She asked me how much money I had in my pocket to make sure I had enough for shopping, and to that I responded "$20."

2. It's relate able:
Everyday I "walk into the [school] like whaddap I got a big [quant chem binder]" just like Macklemore sings.

Yingge here~~
So today is my day of blogging, and I wanted to share some music that I listen to with you guys.
I listen to a variety of music in terms of language and style.
I remember liking different styles of music at different stages.
And over the years, I've accumulated a favorite list of songs, and here's some of them.

If you like my taste, you can click on this link, it will take you to more of my favorite music.

http://cafedesoleil.diandian.com/fm

Paolo Nutini- million faces (English)

Untouchable- You You (korean)

Carla Bruni- La Noyee

Rosie Golan- Hazy

Stacy Kent- Jardin D'hiver

Augustana- Boston

Eagles- Desperado

虽然我愿意（even if I would)(Chinese)

Man U Script Duty

Man U Script Duty
T: 5 (Sarah and Juliet)
W: 1 (Me and Marisa)
T: 2 (Kelly and McKenna)
F: 3 (Bennett and Adlai)

KNOW YOUR TIME
KNOW YOUR QUEST
KNOW YOURSELF
COME TO YOUR DUTIES

FBK

Hey guys!  All of you guys probably think my name is Faith. 

Well, yeah, it is.  But I also have another name.  

Bo-Young

Like many other names, it has a meaning.  

Each syllable has a definition.  

Bo stands for big.

Young stands for swimming.  

Bo-Young : Big Swimming. 

(No, that does not mean if you say bo-young in Korea people will think your saying 'big swimming'.)

I mean, ironically I swim, and I'm pretty big.  But is that what my name literally means?

Thinking about questions like this for many years, I asked my parents what they were getting at with my name.  

He said they chose big because they wanted me to be healthy when I got older and swimming because I was missing an element of water when I was born.  So if people kept calling me Bo-young that element would be filled because of the meaning of my name.  

I have no idea what that means. 

But, I guess it doesn't matter because people call me Faith.  

tapestry presents: blaine siegel

In honor of "# Selfie Saturday," here is a selfie of me holding a sign to advertise
Tapestry's latest installment of the  Guest Speaker Series! TELL YA FRIENDS! && pick up a field trip form in room 176!

Check him out here: http://blainesiegel.com/home.html

For more information about this field trip, scroll down past a few posts!

Friday the 22- Sarah's Post

So I've been completely dragging my feet on posting on the blog all day today (in case you couldn't tell seeing as I'm currently typing this at 11:40) mostly because I couldn't think of anything significant to write about and also because I thought I was going to have this big revelation like in Julie & Julia where Julie has this huge epiphany that she's going to make a food blog. Yeah, that didn't happen, but I did stumble upon a quote that made me laugh and gave me the inspiration I needed to make my post (which kinda backs up the idea that inspiration can be found anywhere). But anyways the quote is "We are not retreating, we are simply advancing in a different direction."

And I liked this not only because its something I would definitely say because I'm really stubborn and refuse to be wrong sometimes, but also because its a great quote about looking at things from a different perspective. Life isn't always a straight line that has a clear direction and destination, but often a winding path-or maze more like- where we don't often know where we are. Sometimes in order to make progress, you have to be willing to give and take and retreat a couple steps if need be. So while sometimes it may feel like your life may be regressing backwards, just try to keep in mind that sometimes changing directions and looking at things from a fresh perspective might be all you need to get yourself back on track.

I really hope that wasn't cheesy or lame....it's probably way too late and my brain is a little fried. But anyways, happy (very late) Friday everyone and just remember that life is a journey, not a destination and sometimes taking a couple steps backward may just be the push you need to advance in a different direction :)

Sarah

Breaking Away

So obviously because I'm a genius, I was absolutely CONVINCED that today was my blog day.
 It's not.
 It was yesterday. Therefore, I present to you the (belated) February 21st post.

This past weekend I was doing my very best to procrastinate by watching Princess Diaries 2. For the first time in years, I heard the song Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson. Now, first off I've always loved her, not only for her talent, but also because our names are both Kelly AND our initials are both KC. Both of these facts were very important to me as a child (and now, who am I kidding?).

As cliche as it sounds, for the first time, I really understood the lyrics. I was able to identify with the meaning behind them. For those of you not familiar with the song, the general premise is about growing up and breaking away from your current surroundings to move on to bigger and better things.

A few lines that struck a chord with me were "I won't forget the place I come from", "I won't forget the ones that I love", and "I'll take a chance, take a risk, and breakaway".

This essentially embodies how I feel about graduating from high school and leaving for college in the fall. I'll never be able to forget all of the friends I made or any of the amazing memories that I had the honor to take part in. However in order to really be successful in my 'new life' in the upcoming Autumn, I will need to take some risks and not be afraid of change. I must be confident enough to breakaway from the life I've known for so long...to embrace every opportunity I am presented with.

I've always known Princess Diaries was deep.

KC

I hate that woman
I hate the woman who tells me, in her benign voice
that you are not going to talk to me.
What rights does she have?
That's right, you are the one who gave her that right.
Why do you
give her that right when you don't even know her
when she doesn't even know you?

I hate that woman
because she knows what you are doing
and I don't.
I know everyone of your exes,
and now she knows all of you exes
including me.

Now she's the one who answers your phone for you
and she's the one who tirelessly tell me that she's sorry
over and over again.

I hate you for not answering you phone,
I hate that woman, because she tells me that
"I'm sorry, the person you are calling has a voice mailbox that has not been set up yet. Goodbye."


Yingge

Hi everyone!  It's Emily Katz.  Or, as some may call me, E Katz.

Now with that nickname in mind...everyone reading this should take a guess as to what my favorite animal is.  If you guessed cats, you're so right!

I love cats.  Not just because they share my last name, but because they are a beautiful, mysterious, intelligent and independent animal.  Actually they are really just like us.  For example, cats can be right or left pawed.  Kittens have baby teeth, which are replaced by permanent teeth after several months.  And humans and cats have similar areas in the brain that are responsible for emotion.  Cats have feelings too, everyone.

But more than that, I love cats because they are just so sweet.  Of course there are mean cats out there that will bite you or hiss at you if you get too close, but there are also kind and loving cats.  There is nothing like petting a cat and hearing it purr because it is so happy to be petted.  Sure, dogs can wag their tails, but that's just not the same and you know it.

So everyone, if you have a cat, go and pet it just for me.

I'm just kidding guys.  I hate cats but we all know you wanted me to say I love them.  I hope you all had a good laugh...go dogs!

Blaine Siegel: Tapestry Speaker Series

On Monday, March 4, local sculptor/painter/drawer/installation artist will be giving a seminar and workshop during second and third period. Blaine's work "explores the advancement of human life on this planet" and provides commentary on the relationships between man, machine, and nature. The format of his visit will be interactive and productive, and we are very excited to have him speak. Please stop by QRT 176 to pick up an in-school trip form from Mrs. Green. Remember, all staff members must attend either 6 review sessions, or 3 review sessions and 1 speaker. Regardless, these intimate talks by local creators are invaluable, and anyone who is interested (aspiring Tapestry staff member or otherwise) is totally encouraged to attend.

To see some more of his work, visit blainesiegel.com

The submissions deadline is tomorrow night at midnight! Get your work in.

PS, general staff meeting tomorrow during QRT! let's get these fressssh submissions reviewed n stuff.


Sam

The Lost Generation-by Jonathan Reed

It's Megan, happy Tuesday!

I'd like to use my blogging day to share this really unique poem that my English class read two weeks ago.

The Lost Generation

Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation.
And I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock, but
“Happiness comes from within”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in thirty years, I will tell my children
They are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
Work
Is more important than
Family
I tell you this:
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
But this will not be true in my era.
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making.
In the future,
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this Earth.
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

So you've just read that incredibly depressing poem. Now, read it again, but start with the last line and read UP. Pretty cool, huh?
This poem is a fabulous example of choosing to see the bright side of things, no matter how bad it may get. This applies to my life right now, as I have had loads of health issues to deal with lately (that's why I'm never in QRT with you lovely people), but I'm trying to see the good in everything. I hope you all can too after reading this amazing poem.

Have a wonderful night, and look on the bright side of things!
Lots of love, Megan

Stars

Hey, it's Emily (Fabiszewski)!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful four day weekend! Though I've enjoyed it, I've mostly been anticipating an email from Mr. Cannon all weekend about which choirs I am destined to take next year and now I just want Monday to come so that it can show up in my inbox. To pass time, I've gone shopping, baked cookies (and will probably do that again tomorrow), went to the gym (after I ate all of the cookies), and for the first time since the beggining of the year, posted a video to YouTube!

This song is one of my recent obsessions. It is a beautiful song by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals called 'Stars.' I discovered this song while watching this season of American Idol where half of the contestants sang this song and the other half sang 'Somebody That I Used To Know' by Gotye. Anyways, I hope you enjoy my rendition of Grace Potter's song and have a magical President's Day!

* I apologize for the darkness of the video! If you make the video full screen, you'll be able to see my face more clearly. Haha (:

Saturday Night Pick-Me Up

HI!  It's McKenna!

So I was sifting through my favorite blogs sometime this week when I should have been working on my first Kirk essay (honestly, if I even have to look at that heinous thing one more time I am going to go postal), when I found this link (http://m.pinterest.com/indyink/don-t-compare-yourself-to-celebrities/) on Epbot.  On this Pinterest page, a woman dissects the distortion of the human body via Photoshop.  In literally piles of pictures, she points out missing ribs, extra fingers, and pounds of invisible fat that we are tricked into believing doesn't exist.  With all the hype about zero calories and super-skinny-I-can't-breathe-jeans, looking at these pictures make me feel better (especially at 2 a.m.).

Question

BY MAY SWENSON

Body my house

my horse my hound   

what will I do

when you are fallen

Where will I sleep   

How will I ride   

What will I hunt

Where can I go

without my mount   

all eager and quick   

How will I know   

in thicket ahead

is danger or treasure   

when Body my good   

bright dog is dead

How will it be

to lie in the sky

without roof or door   

and wind for an eye

With cloud for shift   

how will I hide?

february 15 marisa

Hey guys!

Soo I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend!

But, if you are not, or if you were alone on the big V and are feelin' a lil bit sad, just remember that I, Marisa Acevedo, am at the beginning of the attendance sheet.  Every time.  Every class.  Now, you may think that being first is good, but I can attest that there is a dark side to this.  A very dark side.

First, I am always in the corner chair.  It gets lonely over there sometimes.  Alone.

Second, whenever an activity is assigned, or a teacher is looking for the next poor and unsuspecting student to call on, I am always first.  I am the example.  And though I am a good example.  Of everything (hehe).  There are high expectations for the first person in every activity.

Third, when I get a 'B', its a contradiction (no, not because it is an Asian 'F') because my last name starts with an 'A'.  Even a 'C' would be okay because that is the second letter in my last name!

Fourth, my locker is miles away from my QRT and definitely far away from the nearest civilization.  Though I am not sure if this can be attributed to the firstness of my last name, it is definitely another unfortunate situation that has befallen me.

So, goodbye everyone, I hope I have given you a greater appreciation of your last names that start with letters like K and L and M.

Anonymous College Trip

Anonymous College Trip
By Adlai, Juliet, and Emily K.

Oh tour guide with the tattoo
And the oddly shaped eyebrow,
No, I do not enjoy horseback riding
And I have no interest in joining the Polo team.
I am drowning in these pamphlets and
Your awkward sexual innuendos.

I can smell the half eaten hot dog odor
Coming from your mouth,
And all because that obnoxious mom 12 people back
Had to yell "Excuse me, there are children who can't hear!"
...Children?

As for the boy in the grey hoodie,
The red button is for emergencies only.
I promise you,
The police will come if you press it.

And for the girl who's already winked at me three times,
No, I will not be your roommate.
So stop asking.

So, no, tour guide with the tattoo and the oddly shaped eyebrow,
I will not be back soon.



 

Pause or Rewind?

I think the answer's pretty simple. Pause. Always pause. I've been realizing lately that the times I set aside for checks and balances are seriously instrumental to my overall (mental) health. Whether they be during walks to the bathroom because class became boring, or spontaneously in the middle of a timed test, pauses are essential.
I feel as though many of my friends at this point can't help but looking forward. Our sights are set on college and beyond, and we fail to be attentive to our surroundings and ourselves during this time. Take a moment and unplug your iPod, charge your phone in a different room, and forget to check your email for a few hours. It feels so good to just BE for a few seconds.
I've also noticed that the smallest, most seemingly insignificant objects on your horizon seem to amplify themselves quickly. Those small things, the kid who never seems to want to talk to you, the classmate you haven't had a real conversation with since fourth grade, or the unimportant job opportunity, continually sneak up on you via your blind spot, and before you know it, they're huge, real, and dynamic. Embrace the small things, because you never know what will make a difference.

PS PS PS
The submissions deadline has been officially extended until one week from today, FEB 21!!
Please get your stuff in ASAP. We're loving the submissions so far!

Sam

Thew Cakes da Killa

Bellow is an creative essay that I wrote for a school that apparently doesn't like me very much. Dig in!

I am a bold explorer. My mission is to plunge into a smorgasbord of rich culture and diversity.  I want not to float aimlessly in the unknown, but to probe every crevice.  My ambitions are drooling anxiously; ready to devour experiences relative to the minuscule nourishments they have previously been stimulated with.  This drive has caused me, the bold explorer, to crazily seek a setting with endless nourishment.  I have found the place where I need to be, where I can let my ambitions gluttonize. By applying to NYU early decision, I am standing, waiting impatiently to dive in headfirst to the unknown, with my endless hunger as my exploration apparatus.

Follow up:  I didn't loose my appetite

-Matt

BLOGGING ABOUT FOOD

Hello, blogging world!
It's not my day to blog, but I'm being rebellious and doing it anyway. I've given up on fun food days for our QRT, since no one was actually bringing anything in. I know we're all busy people and that bringing in food is just one more thing to do, but I've noticed on the birthday list on my computer that we have a decent amount of birthdays/half birthdays for the summer birthday folk coming up this month. So, I'm blogging about it to encourage everyone to bring in birthday treats!

6 Reasons why you should bring birthday food to QRT, just in case you need some:
1. Your QRT will love you forever.
2. Dessert at 7:30 in the morning is never a bad thing.
3. It's always fun to show off your baking skills, even if those skills are buying your baked goods. Food is food, no matter how it is obtained!
4. Your birthday/half birthday is the one day where it's okay to bask in your glory. This is done very well through food.
5. That being said, bringing food to QRT will result in MORE birthday/half birthday wishes/love!
6. What goes around comes around. So if you're a birthday treat pioneer, that will result in more food for you on other people's birthdays/half birthdays.

I'm signing off now; I hope my mindless rambling has brightened your day! Or at least made you consider bringing treats to QRT on your birthday.

xoxoxo
-Megan

The Twelfth of February - Emily Quinn

HELLO ALL

So there were a few ideas I had for my blog entry, but I'll just stick to one. Before I get to that though, I want to thank everyone who has blogged so far! The Tappy blog is looking much more interesting now. If you missed your day, you didn't get out of blogging. You will be reassigned. And you shouldn't want to miss it anyways! This is a chance to share your work or work that you enjoy.

So a few weeks ago I saw a writing prompt online that really interested me, so I figure now is a good time to try it. I'm going to attempt to describe a color in a paragraph without ever mentioning that color. If I find the link to the original prompt I'll include it here later.

It's in your breath when you say you hate him. And it's in your eyes when you mean it. It's the color of your hair when you decide you know better than your parents, and the color of your mom's cheeks when she finds out. It's your sister's chipped nail polish when she scrambles through your window at 3:00 in the morning. It's subdued in the scar you got on your knee when you were eleven. It's the color of every warning you've ever ignored and every wound you've ever suffered because of that. It's in your grandma's poorly applied lipstick. It's anger and it's passion and it's love and it's hate. It is the color of every rejection you've ever been given and every fight you'll ever have.

PS - WEAR YOUR TAPESTRY SHIRTS TOMORROW!

Read Me!

Hellooo Mates!

One time like 20 minutes ago, I was eating my dinner and watching the Create channel on TV. The show I was watching was about this local nursery that grew flower plants and sold them to professional florists. And this farmer lady that was being interviewed described how the visitors were always struck by beauty of nature and had amazed looks on their faces at the end of the visit. She talked about wonder-filled children who came in and wanted to touch all of the plants and smell them. Of course I wanted to sit and hear more about this woman's experience as a plant tamer, but I had homework to do. So, I got up, set the plate in the sink,  washed my hands, got three Hershey Kisses from the pantry and made my way up to my room. But I started thinking about the lady and how she had said that children were filled with wonder and the adults that were left amazed, and I began to reflect on what had made me feel that way in the recent past. So I reminisced..

It was February 6th 2013, middle of a school week, 8:06 p.m. a very stressed out me made my way out the front door to go for a run. I was being bombarded with the thoughts of history notes, precalc homework problems and all the shows I was missing for comedy Wednesday. And so really.. I was pretty distressed. Now, my street is truly the street to Tartarus. It is hilly and curvy and then you reach a point where you basically fly downhill for 1/4 of a mile because it's super steep. Therefore, coming back up this 1/4 mile is not a walk in the park, you pretty much want to whip your phone out and call your mom to tell her to pick you up. So you get me? Well, after the first half, I was at the bottom of the hill and it was time to go back up. And as I was running upwards, my gaze turned towards the sky and it was the most magnificent oh-my-god-I-want-to-lie-here-and-stare-at-the-stars-foreverrrrr moment ever. I stopped running and I couldn't help but just bend my neck upwards and STARE.  The  night was dark and cloudless. Maybe 10 mile wind speed tops. The temperature no more than 34 degrees, probably lower. And, man I was literally and figuratively breathless. I could see all the constellations, all the seven sisters, the Venus, the Mars, the Jupiter, the moon, the horizon, I could see everything. Obviously to make this moment perfect my mind started playing Coldplay's Yellow's lyrics, "Look at the stars, Look how they shine for you," and then to make it more perfect I whispered to myself, "I swear in this moment, I am infinite." and I was just so completely and utterly happy by staring at the sky; it was unbelievable. 

I finished my run in peace and walked up my driveway panting like a dog.

So, now I leave it to you to figure out what is something out there that might leave you having epiphanies, or multiple cheesy moments,  or even just stop you and make you reflect. In the end, I felt relieved, refreshed and renewed and ready to finish my school work. 

Thanks for reading.
BUYEEEEEEEEEE!
Jaagrit 

The "it's not my day, but I'm gonna post something anyway" post

So, I was just looking on this list that has mostly all the national "holidays" and do you know what tomorrow is? February 11th is "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day." Which I find very interesting, because I was totally one of those kids who would cry after spilling my drink. But more importantly, I find it funny there is a day just for not crying over spilled milk...I mean of all the days to "celebrate"....

In other news: THIS WEEK IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WEEK! Tomorrow is breast cancer awareness day so pull out your pink and WORK IT!

Eddie ;)

The winky face was just to get your attention.  Business is first:  Somehow, everyone forgot their number assignments in Manuscript.  Consequently, when the poster that had all the group assignments was mysteriously kidnapped, our club became chaos.  Here are the new assignments:

1:  Me and Marisa
2:  Kelly and Mackenna
3:  Bennett and Adlai
4:  Emily and Emily
5:  Sarah and Juliet

Here's the other problem: Even when the numbers were posted, no one followed the rules and made sure they were available on their assigned day.  I'll clarify how it works:  At the beginning of every week, check the M-F calendar in the Manuscript corner.  Your number will be written under a day.  Be available on that day.  Otherwise, one of three things will happen when a starry-eyed pupil arrives for guidance:  1) I will have to take over the session and become annoyed with you (most common), 2) someone else, generally one of the same two or three people, will have to take over the session and become annoyed with you (second-most common), or 3) the starry-eyed pupil will not be tuted (unfortunately, still common).  This is not good for us.  Please change this.

And now, to brighten our spirits, and awkward poem.

My Bed of Spikes

            She

            looked

            like a flight

            attendant    And talked

            like a flight attendant I think she

            would have been okay at flight attending 

            Her hands felt like aluminum  Her

            elbows felt like elbows

            And her voice

            was that of

            a flight

            attendant

            It was like being cramped

            In the passenger seat, with nowhere

            to go, with a person you don’t like Except you’re

            not allowed to wear clothes and that person

  touches your back   While she says

            things like “How’s that

  feel, hun?” in her

  flight attendant

  voice

            How am I

            supposed to answer that?

            She knew  Her hands were on the answer,

  for God’s sake  I was about as tense as a Naked person

  on a cold table Which makes a lot of sense actually

            I have learned a few things now:

            Physical contact is not

            for everyone

            Relaxation

            does not

            cost

            $45

            It

            takes

            thought

            And answers

            And Sleep

            And Pill

            Ow

February 6 Juliet

Good morning!!! I am writing to you via the school bus...how exciting. Haha, not really...i know. I was actually hoping that something magical or incredibly beautiful would happen this morning so i could have amazing things to share with you. However my morning, not surprisingly failed to provide me with any of that. It was quite uneventful. It consisted of the usual: waking up late, taking the world's shortest shower, putting on an outfit that doesn't really match and then running out the door, my coat and lunch in hand. C'mon...I know you know what I'm talking about. :) Here's the deal though...supposedly mornings like these are bad for your brain...surprise surprise! According to my youth pastor, the adreline that accompanies crazy mornings like these stops your brain from fully focusing until 4pm...how convenient! ;) So, my friends, the  lesson of the day is get sufficient sleep!!! And of course...SUBMIT TO TAPESTRY!!!
The deadline is none other than Valentine's Day!

FEBRUARY (BELATED) 4TH by adlaiii

HOWDYYY?!?!

So anywhooo, this is suppose to be feb.'s 4th blog...sooo let's just go with it.
Did you know my favorite poem as a kid was:

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more--that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

(http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16480)


It's probably the best poem written...................
^^^^TRUE DAT.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS,
Adlai :)

february 3rd by alyssa g

Helllllllo blogosphere! Welcome to February 3, 2013.
Today is the day of the Super Bowl... aka the televised Beyonce concert.

I don't know how you all are spending this fine afternoon, but I am reporting from my grandparents' house.

Sometimes when I'm bored, although my grandmother always makes a point to remind me that "only boring people get bored," I wander up to their office to look at the bookshelf.
I'm going to attempt to describe this bookshelf...
First, its pretty small, but it stores an impressive amount of books. There are more than two hundred, which is where I stopped counting. On the left side of the bookshelf, there are mostly works of fiction. There is some Hemingway, some Fitzgerald, some Faulkner, some Steinbeck, some Tolstoy, Plath, and some Kafka (cringe..?). There are probably ten books on the art of the haiku poem placed beside twenty copies of the dictionary/thesaurus/atlas. There's a vast array of books on history. I think it's a safe guess to say that there are two shelves devoted wholly to Japan and its languages, customs, religions, children stories, flower arrangements, and arts. The bottom shelf is full of books about counseling and psychology. I like the book called thoughts without a thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective. My favorite section of the bookshelf is the middle section. There is a copy of the Holy Qur'an next to a Lutheran bible next to a book called Misquoting Jesus next to a book called Zen Way-Jesus Way next to a book on Hinduism next to yet another book about Japan. Next to another book about Japan.

The only word that I can use to describe this collection seems to be "worldly." I feel smarter just sitting in front of the bookshelf. I also feel rather inadequate, but mostly I feel inspired to explore the world. Yesterday was my grandpa's 77th birthday. He has been to 50 countries on all seven continents (give or take a few), lived and taught in Japan, and in a few months, is planning to go to Portugal. For now, I travel the world vicariously through their photos and through these books. In the future, I hope to have a collection that compares to this one. ... awwww.

The funny thing to me is that as I sit in awe at these books, both of my grandparents are sitting downstairs reading on their iPads.