  Figured it was time for a good post. Update: Exams are over. Yay! I know three of my grades, and they're all pretty good. I'm rather pleased with myself. All that studying really did pay off.
I'm exhausted, and very glad it's break. Even though I still have lots of stuff to do. Friday night went to hang out with Joelle and Sarah et al. Our attempts to go see Return of the King failed when someone informed us that they had called the theatre and all the shows were sold out. I need to get tickets early. I can't wait to see it - I've heard nothing but incredible things about it.
One review I read said something along the lines of, "To speak of how wonderful this movie is would be to weep in public. " Must be pretty good, eh? Soon. Also on Friday night, my family became the world's most pitiful Jewish family. I was gone and my dad was asleep, and since he and I are the only ones that know the blessing for the candles, the first night of Hanukkah went completely uncelebrated. It's pretty sad.
I must say, though, that it was rather nice on Saturday not to have to clean out the menorah so we could put the next day's candles in. My mom suggested that we just get a big bowl of oil and set it on fire and see how long it would last. I think we may do that. My mom, sister, and I went to see the Nutcracker today. It was pretty average; most of the dancing was mediocre at best. There were a few really good parts - the orchestra was fantastic, the Sugar Plum Fairy was beautiful, and the Nutcracker was decently handsome.
He was also very talented. I was wondering just why I love that ballet so much, and I think it's because ever since I was very little, I always fantasized about being Clara. I mean, what little girl on the planet doesn't want to be defended by a gallant hero who turns into a handsome prince and takes you in his arms and dances with you? It's wonderful, and I still dream about it. The best part of the whole thing (and also the worst) was the people who were sitting around me. We went to a matinee, so there were lots more kids and old people than there are at the evening performances.
There was an old woman sitting next to me who didn't clap much, but occasionally in the middle of a piece she'd clap her hands together and go, "Yay! " and then stop as quickly as she started. It was totally unpredictable, but really funny. She'd also whisper things really loudly to her granddaughter sitting beside her. "You know," she said at one point, "those dancers are probably 14, 15, 16-year olds! " when they were very obviously in their mid-twenties.
And then behind me there was this sweet little girl who kept getting confused and asking her mom what was going on. When Coffee came on to dance, she said, "Mommy, what's this part? " The mom was trying to be polite and not talk, so she didn't answer her daughter. But she was still confused, so she said again, "Mommy, what's this part? " and then when she didn't get an answer, " Mom , what's this part? " Her mom finally said, "It's Coffee, honey, now shh, be quiet.
" After a little pause, the girl said, "Mommy, why is she Coffee? " and the whole thing started over. It was annoying, but very cute. 
