See I'm not really sure what to write about.

It's been a while, so I've decided I really need to write another post. The problem is, I'm not quite sure what to write about. 

I could bore with tales of last week's exams and how elated I am that they're over. I could enlighten you with deep political statements, or start an ethical debate.

But not right now. Maybe another time.  I guess I'll just tell you about what it's like to be a 15 year old girl living in the suburbs of Washington, DC in 2012.

You know, it's odd. I live in a great area, I go to a great school, and everything in life up until this point has been handed to me on a silver platter. But for some reason, none of this really makes me happy.  I know, I know, the fact that I'm saying this when ten minutes five miles away from me there are people sleeping on the streets of DC sounds spoiled as all get out.  But that's what I need to do. I need to GET OUT.

For some reason, I've always seen my home not as where I live, but New York city.  I've been there... wait, no I lost count after 21638712631209371923. Heh.  But in all honesty. I was there two weeks after 9/11.  I was there during that blizzard a couple years ago. I was there on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  And so many times in between.  I have shed countless tears over both entering and leaving that city. I know, I know... to form an emotional attatchment to a place is odd.  But, to be honest, I think a lot of people do it. No matter where I go in the world, for me that city is the world.  To me, the most beautiful site is not the hills of Tuscany, the Vatican, the London Eye looking over the Thames. It's not Mt. Tamalpais or the Emerald Isle or the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

It's the Manhattan skyline.  And while that gaping hole, that deep emptiness immediatley signifies something missing, the skyline is still breathtaking. And whether I've seen it 1 time or 1,000... it's never gonna get old.  :)

No, I'm not dead...

To whom it may concern,
Hello there. So I KNOW I haven't written in several months, and I'm not going to try to come up with some stupid excuse because, let's be honest, everyone can see right past those, anyways. But I have been busy. Being a sophomore is HARD. And I'm only in high school...think about college...ugh. So, anyways. I'm going to keep this one pretty short because I HATE blogging from my iPod...the keyboard is super-de-duper-de annoying (yes that is now a word..it just is okay?! Just accept it!)

Oh I thought I should tell you people... I'm done with crew. It just become too much...like WAY too much. Everyone is very very competitive and I started to not enjoy it so much. So I'm currently running track and I really love it- it's lots of fun. I'm hurdling, and though I may not be the best, I'm not the worst and besides, I just started. But everyone is very supportive and nice, and I have a lot of friends on the team. I mean, of course I had a bunch of friends on crew, but I also have a lot on track.

Ok people so thats basically it for this post. Told ya it would be short.
Au revoir!

School's OUT and Summer Plans

School. Is done. I am a SOPHMORE.

I honestly can't believe it. This year has flown by, what with crew and all my homework. But now I've got 2 1/2 months of summer to look forward to. And I'm leaving for Greece tomorrow, so if I have internet access at any point I'll definitely be posting :).

This summer is going to be really fun. So I'm going to Greece and Rome (and possibly Ireland? Fingers crossed!) for 3 weeks, and then I will have some free time. After that I have to go to Dallas for a reunion with my family... should be interesting. After that I have crew camp, and then I'm going to California! I will also be posting more often, seeing as I don't have school anymore. Bittersweet? I'm looking forward to next year, yet I'm not. This year was so much fun, and a lot happened. But we have to do a lot of public speaking next year, and let's just say that's not my strong spot.

It just doesn't feel like summer, though. I think it's because we had exams, which I'm not used to having every day at the end of the year. I got a B on my math exam. They just posted that one. UGH I WANTED TO DO BETTER THIS MEANS I GET A B IN MATH FOR THE SEMESTER!! I am not happy about that AT ALL.

Well, I gotta go. Ciao!

You Know You Row Crew When...

15. You find yourself calling your boat mates by their seat number instead of their real names.
14. Your "free time" consists of you sitting at home not knowing what to do.
13. You hate anyone who has a better erg score then you.
12. The sorer you are, the better.
11. There is no such thing as perfect. Ever.
10. You can't seem to think about anything else. And stop trying- it won't happen.
9. There are two seasons- competition and winter conditioning.
8. You continuously deny that it's a cult...even when secretly, you know it is.
7. You wear your spandex with almost every outfit.
6. You don't giggle when you hear the phrase "cox box."
5. It's nearly impossible to hold a solid conversation with people outside the team because you don't know what to talk about...
4. ...Because all you ever talk about is crew.
3. "Erg" is not a sound you make when you're annoyed.
2. You will probably never be able to find living skin cells on your hands for the rest of your life.
1.
And no matter how upset you get, you won't stop. Ever.

They Give Us Dirty Laundry, so please- Don't Stand so Close to Me*

*The title will make sense later :-D

Well, it's been a while, to say the least. But I have more time to blog now that crew is over.  But the next few weeks are the best part (yippee) of school- exams. That was sarcasm, by the way.

So. Anyways. Rather than focus on how long I've been gone for, let's get right to the blogging.

The classic rock station in the DC area is 100.3. I used to listen to 99.5, which is the new "pop" music. Personally, I think it's just really, really bad.  I don't know if I should even go into how bad I think it is.  Hey, if you prefer Nicki Minaj to the Police, that's OK. I WILL RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS. Phew. But when I wake up in the morning, it's nice having something to look forward to, even if it is a radio station. And if any of you guys wanted to check it out, even if you don't live in the DC area, here's the link because they do have some really great music.
http://www.thebigdc.com/main.html

What else? Oh yeah. DRUMROLL PLEASE...

So you know how we all have those hobbies that are more or less unexpected? Well, I'm on that bandwagon. I scrapbook.

Yep. You heard me correctly. I don't know why, but there's something about scrapbooking that I just really enjoy. I find it really neat to be able to pick stickers, paper, embellishments, photos, and the list goes on and on and on...

In fact, I have a youtube channel. And because I love you guys, those of you who take teh time to read my blog, so much, here is the link to my channel.  I also have book reviews and some stuff on writing, in case you would like to know.
http://www.youtube.com/user/NataliaMurad1?feature=mhee

Also, there is one 18 minute-long video on my channel. It's an unedited school project and I haven't taken it down yet. My friends and I were attempeting to create a video sumamry of Cosette from Les Miserables. It's actually kind of funny. So if you have 18 minutes to spare, take a look. :))

And now I'm going to do a new segment I like to call My Top 10, where I post my top 10 favorite songs at this moment in time.

10. No Milk Today- Herman's Hermits

9. We've Only Just Begun- The Carpenters

8. Message in a Bottle- The Police

7.  Every Breath You Take-The Police

6. I'm into Something Good- Herman's Hermits

5. Doo Wah Diddy- Manfred Man

4. Sweet Home Alabama- Lynard Skynard (I just wish they didn't use the stars and bars...)

3. Double Vision- Foreigner

2. Dirty Laundry- Don Henley

1. Don't Stand So Close to Me- The Police

I feel like one of the best ways to know someone is through the music they like. So here ya go. Hope enjoy. And also, please take note that none of it came out after 1990.

Alright guys, that's all for today.
See ya 'round,
NATALIA.

Our TV is Messed Up

Have you ever tried watching a show on TV and about every 5 seconds it gets pixelated, stops, and then starts again.

Then you know what I am talking about.

We have Comcast, and we have had this ongoing problem where the TV gets pixelated and then pauses, interupting our show. Even when you're not watching, it's annoying. This is kind of what it sounds like.

"H-uh-i."
"H-uh-ello."
"Wh-uh-t's u-uh-p?"
"N-uh-ot m-uh-uch. Y-uh-ou?"

The "uhs" represent that annoying sound it makes when the tv stops. It's actually kind of hilarious because sometimes when it stops, you will see a picture of, for example, a guy's open mouth for 3 seconds.

This is kind of what it looks like when the TV gets pixelated.


OK, well not really. But you get my point.

So that's all I have time for tonight. It's Sunday, and I still haven't finished my homework.

Auf weidersein!

Justin Bieber- He's finally growing up

Justin Bieber.  The name alone is enough to make millions of girls (and yes, some boys) swoon. 

I personally am not a fan.  I admit his voice has gotten deeper, but I still don't like his music.

But I think he finally might be "growing up."



This is from rollingstone.com.  There was an article about him, and in it he discussed his view on sex, fame, politics, etc.  Some of the things he said were, well, interesting.

For example: He isn't sure what political party he'd support if he was old enough to vote. "I'm not sure about the parties," Bieber says. "But whatever they have in Korea, that's bad."

Well, Biebs, I agree.  The situation in Korea is very bad.  But is that really all you could think of?  I mean isn't he 17? 

But this just took the cake.



Well, Justin, looks like you've finally grown up.  And no, Selena, just because you are covering your face with your hand doesn't mean we can't tell it's you. 

But in Justin's defense, he probably be more famous than any of us.  Probably.  Not definetly. 

To be honest, I was actually obsessed with Justin Bieber for about a year.  I actually would pretend I was his girlfriend.

Please don't judge.  I was 12. Or mabe 13.  But I don't think I'm the only one.

Then one day I realized that I personally didn't like his music.  I found something better- the classic rock station on the radio.

Now That's What I Call Music. (No copyright infringement intended)

So what do you think? Have you been infected with Bieber Fever?